Of Unicorns and $225 SROs: Why the Classifieds are a "Sucker" Minefield

[mthayr]

I’ve been watching the "I got scammed" threads pile up lately, and while I feel for anyone who loses hard-earned money, we need to have a blunt conversation. We post thread after thread debating whether to use PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Friends & Family, or Goods & Services, but we are ignoring the root of the problem.

The scammer epidemic on Rokslide has less to do with how you pay and everything to do with being gullible. We are feeding this problem by being so eager for a "deal" that we toss common sense out the window.

"There's a sucker born every minute..." Scammers aren't geniuses; they are just waiting for the next guy who thinks he’s "beating the system." Look at the recent examples that have been making the rounds:

• A BNIB $1,400+ Leupold Mk4 4.5-18x52 offered for $675.
• The $600 Trijicon SRO offered for $225.

Ask yourself: Why would a total stranger give you a 50-60% discount on an in-demand, high-value item? Its simple... they wouldn't. Good gear is not cheap, and it holds its value. When you expect "yard sale prices" on premium optics and technical gear, you aren't finding a bargain—you’re volunteering to be a victim. As the saying goes: "If it’s too good to be true, it probably is."

This is all of our shared responsibility: get into the real world. Scammers thrive on anonymity and digital distance. They will not stop until we make it difficult for them to deceive us. We bear some of the responsibility for feeding this problem by expecting quality gear for pennies on the dollar, and failing to do even the most basic due diligence.

If you want to avoid being scammed, you have to move the conversation into the real world:

1. Talk Directly to the Seller: If you are dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars, pick up the phone. Ask for a FaceTime. If they "can't talk" or make excuses about why they can't show the item in real-time, walk away.
2. Be Suspicious of Ridiculous Discounts: If the price is a massive departure from retail or even the normal used market, your guard should be at an all-time high.

I’ve suggested this in the past, and I’ll state it again: The forum mods can make a difference if they require Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to use (buy or sell) the Classifieds. An increasing number of these scams come from compromised accounts that have been dormant for long periods of time. 2FA would effectively shut the door on scammers using these "ghost" accounts to fleece people. Its offered for use on the forum in general, its time it becomes mandatory, at least if you want to buy and sell.



Scammers are here because we are making it profitable and easy for them. Until we stop being "suckers" for a cheap deal and start treating these transactions with the healthy skepticism they deserve, the problem will continue. I challenge you all to be smarter buyers and stop whining about being ripped off if you fall for a too-good-to-be-true deal. Its the only way to keep this forum a place for legitimate hunters, not a playground for thieves.

 

[Marbles]

Agree. Usually, if the item is really there, and sold at a too good to be true price, it is stolen. So a person is not scoring a deal, only supporting theft.

 

[rclouse79]

Indeed. High ticket items are best bought in person.

 

[RockAndSage]

The $600 Trijicon SRO offered for $225.

You're making great points, especially requiring 2FA and being suspicious of "too good to be true" pricing.

People also need to understand that a clever scammer will give a viable reason for such a discount as noted on the SRO. In that case, it was listed as "no box, pulled it off a gun I sold, no screws." So, a used SRO, no box, no screws. That particular scammer was also part of the gun/hunting world - he was part of our culture. And for a used item, missing parts, no box...that's a great price - right at the edge of stupid, but not quite crossing the line, given the context. Especially with the cultural language being used appropriately. Some of these people are smart, and they learn. Next round will probably be "No lowballers, I know what I got here".
So, for buyers and sellers, go Goods & Services + facetime, minimum.

Mods, I would second the motion and strongly encourage you all to require 2-factor authentication to sell in classifieds, and have a tag that says whether someone's 2FA registered here.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Mods, I would second the motion and strongly encourage you all to require 2-factor authentication to sell in classifieds, and have a tag that says whether someone's 2FA registered here.

We can't make that call. You need to call on the owners.

Think of it like the NFL-no moderator is Roger Goodel. We are the idiots who get crapped on at every call wearing stripes.

 

[Team4LongGun]

But it's worth it for the $$

 

[mthayr]

You need to call on the owners.

I'd tag them if I knew who to tag.

 

[svivian]

I'd tag them if I knew who to tag.

@robby denning @Ryan Avery

 

[Pacific_Fork]

I'd tag them if I knew who to tag.

You honestly don’t know who owns this forum and you’ve been on here since 2018? Serious question

 

[Maverick1]

We can't make that call. You need to call on the owners.

Think of it like the NFL-no moderator is Roger Goodel. We are the idiots who get crapped on at every call wearing stripes.

There are a number of features that show up in user profiles. Joined, # of messages, Last seen, rating - all of that shows up on the user profile page.....would it be possible to add information to a users profile if they have 2FA enabled on their account?

 

[Maverick1]

You honestly don’t know who owns this forum and you’ve been on here since 2018? Serious question

David Long and Aron Snyder. What do I win?

 

[gbflyer]

Owner has made it clear that the classifieds are a big pain in his ass. Push hard enough and maybe they go away.

 

[svivian]

There are a number of features that show up in user profiles. Joined, # of messages, Last seen, rating - all of that shows up on the user profile page.....would it be possible to add information to a users profile if they have 2FA enabled on their account?

View attachment 990389

Just make it that much faster and easier for hackers to find the easy targets

 

[Team4LongGun]

There are a number of features that show up in user profiles. Joined, # of messages, Last seen, rating - all of that shows up on the user profile page.....would it be possible to add information to a users profile if they have 2FA enabled on their account?

View attachment 990389

Ok, let me try this another way......

The football game is over, all the fans left, and us active mods are scraping the gum from the bleachers. We can't make that, or any decisions regarding formatting! (If we were allowed, the classifieds would look so different)

Seriously tho, you would need to bring this up to the owners. I can agree, something needs to be done in my opinion about the scammers.

 

[mthayr]

You honestly don’t know who owns this forum and you’ve been on here since 2018? Serious question

In fact... I do. In fact... I have:

Post in thread 'Scammed by member MJW'

Nov 11, 2025

2FA - should be mandatory at this point, or there should be a requirement for WKR to have in enabled @robby denning

• mthayr

• 
• 

...and the reply:

Post in thread 'Scammed by member MJW'

Nov 12, 2025

2FA - should be mandatory at this point, or there should be a requirement for WKR to have in enabled @robby denning

Hey, your tagging the wrong admin. Ryan and Jskaanland handle most of this stuff. I didn't tag them because they probably already know and are 25 deep in tags and PMs, so I'll only slow them down

OP, sorry you got taken.

• robby denning

• 

(see the part of post #1 where I said I've brought it up before)

 

[Maverick1]

Just make it that much faster and easier for hackers to find the easy targets

That might be a valid point. They could target users that are NOT 2FA. But, would it not also make it easier for forum users to see who is 2FA and good to go? Thus adding another layer of security/trust in completing transactions?

 

[svivian]

That might be a valid point. They could target users that are NOT 2FA. But, would it not also make it easier for forum users to see who is 2FA and good to go? Thus adding another layer of security/trust in completing transactions?

I don’t disagree with the thought process.

If I was lord of Rokslide I would just make classifieds a $25 pay to play and require 2fa.

Make it it’s own section that can’t be searched or seen unless you meet the parameters above

 

[wapitibob]

David Long and Aron Snyder. What do I win?

Bingo
well, past tense

 

[Pacific_Fork]

In fact... I do. In fact... I have:

Post in thread 'Scammed by member MJW'

Nov 11, 2025

2FA - should be mandatory at this point, or there should be a requirement for WKR to have in enabled @robby denning

• mthayr

• 
• 

...and the reply:

Post in thread 'Scammed by member MJW'

Nov 12, 2025

2FA - should be mandatory at this point, or there should be a requirement for WKR to have in enabled @robby denning

Hey, your tagging the wrong admin. Ryan and Jskaanland handle most of this stuff. I didn't tag them because they probably already know and are 25 deep in tags and PMs, so I'll only slow them down

OP, sorry you got taken.

• robby denning

• 

(see the part of post #1 where I said I've brought it up before)

Then you know.

To your OP you can’t legislate intelligence for the classifieds. Talk to people over the phone and FaceTime and learning to read people is the only way to purchase expensive gear. Scammers will always find away around verification tactics. Get them on FaceTime!

 

[fngTony]

I honestly don’t know if there is a way to force 2fa into anything let alone a specific forum. If there was, I can only imagine the possibility of a negative domino effect of people not being able to access the classifieds and possibly other parts of the forum.