I Got Scammed On Instagram, Careful Out There

[Brew&Briar]

Just a heads up to you all out there – There is an active scammer out there on instagram. I had a pretty long messaging session about some cellar he was trying to sell off - Then he took me for $150 bucks. I am not sure the best way to protect ourselves from being scammed, so just wanted to alert you all.

The guys Instagram handle was ViperSting989 and was "selling" all sorts of McClelland tins, Esoterica, Dunhills. Once you get a price, he offers to throw in some other tins for a better price to "sweeten the pot."

I fell for it, sent the money and never heard a word from the guy. If your gut is telling you something is off, it is.

Its one thing to decide to finally purchase some vintage tins, its another to realize you just get burned. My first bad experience from the pipe smoking community. I have really only come across generosity up until now.

 

[jvnshr]

I am sorry to hear that. Did you report him?

 

[Brew&Briar]

I did through Instagram, but not sure they will care much, as they don't have an option for "fraud" - only inappropriate content and using someones identity. I also opened a case with PayPal, which I hear doesn't hold up well when you use the friends and family feature of it.

All in all, It could have been worse. I mostly just want to let people know whats going on out there, I am sure some people are wiling to drop a lot more than I did.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Just a heads up to you all out there – There is an active scammer out there on instagram. I had a pretty long messaging session about some cellar he was trying to sell off - Then he took me for $150 bucks. I am not sure the best way to protect ourselves from being scammed, so just wanted to alert you all.

The guys Instagram handle was ViperSting989 and was "selling" all sorts of McClelland tins, Esoterica, Dunhills. Once you get a price, he offers to throw in some other tins for a better price to "sweeten the pot."

I fell for it, sent the money and never heard a word from the guy. If your gut is telling you something is off, it is.

Its one thing to decide to finally purchase some vintage tins, its another to realize you just get burned. My first bad experience from the pipe smoking community. I have really only come across generosity up until now.

Sorry to hear that mate, thanks for the heads up.

 

[captainsousie]

Thanks for the warning and sorry you had such a narsty experience. Stick around and I'd bet many of us will show you a more honest face.

 

[reg46]

wow that really sucks, hopefully you can get his account shutdown.

 

[JoeKemp]

That really sucks. I had that happen to me once, but it was only $50.

 

[Pit&Pipes]

That sucks I got scammed from a FB purchase and then had to deal with PP to try and get it resolved which it never was and I had to open another account. Shady people out there. I just trust in karma. But still doesn’t make me feel better :-(

 

[FurCoat]

Sorry to here that. Some really sorry excuses for human beings out there.

 

[Casual]

Pro tip: always use a credit card or PayPal with buyer protection. View any request for different suspiciously. If you’re going to gamble, make sure the other person ha more to lose from the fraud than you.

 

[briarbuck]

A pox on that seller...

 

[anotherbob]

One of the reasons a place like this is great for buying and selling. Is we're a community which means there is something to loss if someone tries to run a scam. Instagram not so much. That sucks. At least it's not that much money but still could have gotten some mileage out of those bucks.

 

[lukasstrifeson]

A great reminder to use PayPal's Buyer Protection when dealing with new people/sellers/buyers. I've had people try to scam me from the buying side too; best to keep your wits about you.

 

[BROBS]

A great reminder to use PayPal's Buyer Protection when dealing with new people/sellers/buyers. I've had people try to scam me from the buying side too; best to keep your wits about you.

Exactly. If you just add the fee and send as a normal payment you get buyer protection. So for like $7 you could have had recourse.

 

[mso489]

Let me guess, you sent money to a post office box? A check or money order? I wonder how he negotiates his alias when cashing it? Sorry to hear a person who knows pipe tobacco is also a thief, but so it is.

 

[anotherbob]

Let me guess, you sent money to a post office box? A check or money order? I wonder how he negotiates his alias when cashing it? Sorry to hear a person who knows pipe tobacco is also a thief, but so it is.

pretty easy to find out what the hot items are. Gosh darn it just realized that it would be easy for a scammer to get an empty tin and put something else in there.

 

[Brew&Briar]

Let me guess, you sent money to a post office box? A check or money order? I wonder how he negotiates his alias when cashing it? Sorry to hear a person who knows pipe tobacco is also a thief, but so it is.

Unfortunately - It is much easier than that. They have you send them money via PayPal (or bitcoin) through the friends and family feature (this saves on a processing fee I guess). The friends and family exchanges are harder to dispute.

 

[Brew&Briar]

Exactly. If you just add the fee and send as a normal payment you get buyer protection. So for like $7 you could have had recourse.

Hindsight – you are absolutely right. In the moment it was "So by clicking this I can save $7" –

 

[Brew&Briar]

Also - Another takeaway for me, do a little digging on the name, email address, or account handle. Its usually not their first time doing it, and someone has said something. I waited about 45mins to long to search, but as soon as I did I knew I wasn't getting anything out of the transaction.

 

[BROBS]

Hindsight – you are absolutely right. In the moment it was "So by clicking this I can save $7" –

Trust me I’ve been there. I learned my lesson though .. sometimes it’s fine like dealing on this forum I trust people more than in the “outer world”.