Almost got scammed today in R2R

[Cflow]

Last night a “member” reached out to me regarding a WTB post I had made. Their username was “Angieortega####”. The # representative numbers I do not recall. They said they know someone selling a light fixture I’m looking for. They gave me an email address “[email protected]”. I reached out and they responded as “Michelle Popper”, stating they do in fact have the light on looking for. We went back and forth. I rechecked my conversations on R2R and I noticed the original message from Angie Ortega mysteriously disappeared. The perp eventually gave me their PayPal info but asked that I only do “ for friends” as payment. Red flag. I told them I would rather pay the difference with “goods and services”. They gave me a different PayPal account and said it’s fine if I want to pay the difference for goods and services. I asked for a picture of the light and they quickly sent me a pic of a similar light literally ripped from another recent post on R2R. However, that light was recently sold and it was slightly different than what they told me they were selling. I called them out on it and communicated stopped. Watch out. Scammers be scammin.

 

[spsick]

The WTB posts seem to bring them like vultures.

 

[Sean Clark]

This sort of thing would never happen if members paid $8 to get a blue checkmark and get "verified"...

 

[Tamberav]

The WTB posts seem to bring them like vultures.

^ this

Often it is the "I know someone selling..." BS line too.

 

[ReeferMonkey]

Oh wow Im currently emailing back and forth same situation about a 48" T5 Light for 350... Yikes thanks

 

[ReeferMonkey]

same angieortega and MichellePopper@gmail too

 

[Aspect]

Beware of Increased Scam Activity.

Lately I have been seeing a lot of scam activity on here especially if you are active in the buying/selling side of this forum. They all start out the same, you will receive a pm saying something like this: "So and so has the item/fish you are looking for in good condition, their email is...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[albano]

This sort of thing would never happen if members paid $8 to get a blue checkmark and get "verified"...

How would that stop a scammer from contacting you?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

This sort of thing would never happen if members paid $8 to get a blue checkmark and get "verified"...

Good one…….

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

How would that stop a scammer from contacting you?

He’s being facetious but I’ll get the last laugh. Muhaaaaa!

 

[ChiCity]

This sort of thing would never happen if members paid $8 to get a blue checkmark and get "verified"...

He’s being facetious but I’ll get the last laugh. Muhaaaaa!

this is pure gold

 

[Fishy888]

this is pure gold

Idiot scammers. And they’re so bold they keep the same names. Don’t they realize that people compare notes especially on a reefing forum like this. Reefers aren’t exactly stupid. SMH

 

[albano]

 

[Cflow]

How did they remove themselves from my communication inbox? That was the first tip besides personal email.

 

[piranhaman00]

Falling for this scam is your own fault , very obvious, I get them with all WTB, multiple accounts sometimes

 

[albano]

How did they remove themselves from my communication inbox? That was the first tip besides personal email.

I believe that once their account is deleted, all posts and PMs are removed

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I believe that once their account is deleted, all posts and PMs are removed

This is correct! We use a tool that removes it all so any others who have gotten a message doesn’t end up falling for the scam.

 

[Cflow]

This is correct! We use a tool that removes it all so any others who have gotten a message doesn’t end up falling for the scam.

I’m glad it was removed. That was the first tip.

 

[Aspect]

He’s being facetious but I’ll get the last laugh. Muhaaaaa!

How'd you get that blue check?!

 

[KrisReef]

How would that stop a scammer from contacting you?

Send me 10$ and I will explain it to you, prefer Friends & Family to avoid unnecessary confusion.