Keep your head on a swivel

[nortac]

I just wanted to post this for general safety when purchasing something. Key point is Verify, then trust.

This is an original photo of something I have for sale in the optics classifieds...


This is the same photo I asked ChapGPT to add a note at the bottom of the picture...


It took me about 1 minute to do this and just be careful as anyone could use a photo to insert whatever they want to make you believe what they are saying. This is only going to get more sophisticated. So instead of the trust but verify. We need to all VERIFY then TRUST.

 

[survivalistd]

Great heads up..

 

[NRA4LIFE]

This is why I don't buy or sell anything on forums.

 

[Chris in TN]

Great point, but I just want to say that I'd immediately be concerned if a guy selling used gear could do calligraphy that well.

 

[nortac]

Great point, but I just want to say that I'd immediately be concerned if a guy selling used gear could do calligraphy that well.

I asked it to do cursive. I wasn't specific regarding the correctness of it. That could be easily changed....

 

[onlybrowning]

Yup that last guy impersonating whitingja had something for sale, a stock I think, with a note under it.

 

[usahntr1]

I almost fell for this exact scam a few weeks ago. Someone replied to my post, sent a pic in that exact format, but then payment details were sketchy and I realized what was happening. I went back and clicked on the user profile and they had already been banned. Lesson learned.

 

[grfox92]

Perfect. Now all the scammers lurking amongst us know exactly how to scam us even harder......

 

[ozyclint]

Public land green energy feeding data centres at work.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Perfect. Now all the scammers lurking amongst us know exactly how to scam us even harder......

Like they needed the advice.

They're working harder at scamming folks than we do at real jobs

 

[Ucsdryder]

if the forum would require 2 form authentication at lot of this would end immediately.

 

[wapitibob]

Easily missed but the card over the shadow is a giveaway. At this point I'd rather buy retail 99% of the time.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

Always, ALWAYS ask the seller for a wedding photo or photo of seller with his girlfriend. Once received ask for nude photo of wife/girlfriend. Two factor ID or no sale.

 

[MuleyFever]

This why saving a few bucks just isn't worth it anymore. Takes a lot of amazing deals to make up for one mistake.

 

[jayhawk]

Always, ALWAYS ask the seller for a wedding photo or photo of seller with his girlfriend. Once received ask for nude photo of wife/girlfriend. Two factor ID or no sale.

…and hope they’re not gay :/

 

[Wrench]

If I'm spending big money I send the seller my number and ask them to call me when they have the item in hand. During our conversation I will ask where they are... in the house, shop, car...etc. so far they've always been in the house or garage.

Once I have that much information, I will ask for a picture of the item with items in the picture that should reside in the location described....if in the garage, please place the scope (for example) on a quart of oil on it's side with the objective lens to the bottom of the oil jug. Please add a rag and or a hammer in the pic. In the house I might ask for a pic on a plate with 3 forks and a can of soup in the picture.

I ask for this to be texted to me as we chat. Not many people can use ai that fast as we speak without rattling a keyboard. I can hear them setting up the shot and I either get the pic (100% so far) or I'll pull the pin. Lastly ask for the mailing address. A quick run through googlefu or onx is usually enough to tie the phone number, address and name to a location and usually an occupation.

It's not foolproof, but it's as good as I've come up with.

 

[7mm-08]

Deal with WKR's you recognize from the forum who have a good track record with respect to feedback and frequency of posts. Dormant accounts coming to life after languishing years is not a good sign.

 

[fngTony]

If you think thats scary, here’s your photo ran through ai asking if it had been altered or generated by ai

 

[Nickofthewoods]

…and hope they’re not gay :/

Your choice whether you want to proceed passed the first photo...

 

[RaceRedStang]

If you think thats scary, here’s your photo ran through ai asking if it had been altered or generated by ai
View attachment 1076951

AI lies so much. It is only going to get worse before it gets better