GunBroker and Scammers/Fake Listings.

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • workshop777

    Member
    Feb 11, 2021
    34
    I'm relatively new the the gun world after picking up my P320 last month, but have already been looking around for my next gun.

    I purchased mine from GunBroker and had a completely smooth transaction (with the exception of FedEx super slow shipping due to bad weather) and couldn't be happier with my purchase, so I have been poking around there and other places for my next gun.

    I saw a Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion 10mm go up for sale at a PA store for instore pickup only, which means us MD guys are not eligible for since we need it sent to an FFL (please correct me if I'm wrong on that).

    So I started poking around GunBroker for one and of course there is a massive markup over retail for it, but that was to be expected.

    What I didnt expect was the amount of fake listings/Scam listings. Here is a link directly to the search results: https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion

    You will see a lot of sellers that have no rating at all or very poor rating. A lot of listings are using pictures taken from other listings as well. Just real shady stuff.

    So being so new, I was curious if this is just the norm. I don't remember seeing anything like this when I was searching for the p320 earlier this year. Wonder if this only really occurs with certain higher priced models...

    I reported what I saw and it doesn't look like GunBroker did anything about it at all, which I kinda expected.
     
    Jul 1, 2012
    5,711
    There's definitely been a huge surge recently.
    As you pointed out they are fairly easy to spot.
    GB is slow to respond, if they do at all.
     

    dfitzs1

    Member
    Mar 24, 2020
    61
    I believe you can still go out of state to buy handguns. The seller has to be willing to ship to a MD FFL of your choice. I'm going through this process for the first time right now.
     

    workshop777

    Member
    Feb 11, 2021
    34
    I believe you can still go out of state to buy handguns. The seller has to be willing to ship to a MD FFL of your choice. I'm going through this process for the first time right now.

    Right. This sale said in-store pickup only. With that statement I assumed he wouldn't do that. I guess I could have called to verify.
     

    CMOS

    One ragged donut hole
    Nov 13, 2009
    608
    MoCo
    I offer escrow services for firearms transactions. During the auction, or after I suppose, msg the seller and ask if they will work with your escrow agent. Seller that immediately goes dark is usually a good indicator of a scam. I've been involved in numerous cases where buyers contact me to confirm availability/terms/etc, they go back to the seller with that, and then poof. Anyway, if someone takes you up on the offer to use an escrow agent, let me know and we'll see if I can help out.

    BTW, if you win an auction, and even if you don't pay, gun broker still charges the seller the transaction fee. They can go back to GB to complain etc, but good luck dealing with those a**holes. So if the seller refuses to use escrow, and the deal falls through after the auction is over, that's kind of annoying for them. Of course, they could write a negative review about you, but then you could write a negative review about them as well. So prolly best not to start the escrow conversation after winning the auction. Better before bidding, etc.

    But yeah, I've seen some auctions for desirable guns, like a Sig MCX in 300 BO, offered by sellers that are "NR" no rating, getting bid up to thousands of dollars. Crazy.
     

    dfitzs1

    Member
    Mar 24, 2020
    61
    Right. This sale said in-store pickup only. With that statement I assumed he wouldn't do that. I guess I could have called to verify.

    The way I did it was I drove to the gunstore, paid, gave them the address of my FFL and they said they would ship it out. I'm still waiting for it to arrive at the FFL. So I guess it was "in person".
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    The way I did it was I drove to the gunstore, paid, gave them the address of my FFL and they said they would ship it out. I'm still waiting for it to arrive at the FFL. So I guess it was "in person".

    They need a copy of your FFL's FFL.

    Did you let your FFL know to send it to the shipping FFL?
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    Does Gunbroker offer any buyer protection now that they have changed their system recently? I know ebay does to an extent. I was looking at buying something on Gunbroker tonight actually.
     

    workshop777

    Member
    Feb 11, 2021
    34
    Does Gunbroker offer any buyer protection now that they have changed their system recently? I know ebay does to an extent. I was looking at buying something on Gunbroker tonight actually.

    I have no idea. I bought my sig and I bought ammo off there a few times but that was from people who had very good ratings and have been there a while. I dont think I would ever buy from a new person there...

    ... that sucks when you really think about it because a new seller might join and actually be 100 percent legit, but people wouldnt trust him due to the amount of other unrated scammers/fake listings out there.
     

    photoracer

    Competition Shooter
    Oct 22, 2010
    3,318
    West Virginia
    That has been the norm for as long as 15 years or so on all auction sites for items in any reasonably expensive category. Guns is just one of the newer categories that they are hitting these days.
     

    Ikaros240

    Member
    Aug 11, 2020
    76
    I have no idea. I bought my sig and I bought ammo off there a few times but that was from people who had very good ratings and have been there a while. I dont think I would ever buy from a new person there...

    ... that sucks when you really think about it because a new seller might join and actually be 100 percent legit, but people wouldnt trust him due to the amount of other unrated scammers/fake listings out there.

    Personally I'd pull a page from reddit and post a time stamp of my user name+date next to the gun I'm selling, so at least people know that I do in fact own whatever I am selling
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    Just a PSA, watch your Gunbroker accounts. Got an automated message that I had changed my account email sometime around midnight, which I didn't. So this morning I logged on to change my password and of course find out that I'm locked out of my own account. Contacted their tech support to get some assistance, but I'm guessing it won't get resolved until Monday. Pisses me off, but what can you do. Watch your accounts and shut down anything that looks odd fast.
     

    mac1_131

    MSI Executive Member
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 31, 2009
    3,280
    Just a PSA, watch your Gunbroker accounts. Got an automated message that I had changed my account email sometime around midnight, which I didn't. So this morning I logged on to change my password and of course find out that I'm locked out of my own account. Contacted their tech support to get some assistance, but I'm guessing it won't get resolved until Monday. Pisses me off, but what can you do. Watch your accounts and shut down anything that looks odd fast.
    Sounds like a password guesser got you? Did you have a strong pw unique to GB?

    I have an account or two still lurking out there that have old passwords involved in a breach that I need to change.
     

    kolohekanaka

    Active Member
    Jul 23, 2017
    122
    Howard County, MD
    I have purchased numerous guns on Gunbroker.com. I've only had a couple negative experiences. One time after my FFL received a firearm from the seller's FFL he ran the serial number and found that the gun was flagged as reported stolen. The seller promptly refunded my money. Apparently, the seller's FFL was not required to check if the gun was stolen.
     

    Sirex

    Powered by natural gas
    Oct 30, 2010
    10,380
    Westminster, MD
    So, what's the deal with their messaging system? I have a few items listed on GB. A potential buyer emails me a question. I try to respond, and the email address is a generic members@gunbroker.com, then I get a message it didn't go thru. Does their message system just suck, or am I doing something wrong?
     

    traveller

    The one with two L
    Nov 26, 2010
    18,257
    variable
    Right. This sale said in-store pickup only. With that statement I assumed he wouldn't do that. I guess I could have called to verify.

    This is to guard against the folks who refuse to pick up from their local FFL and put in a dispute with their CC company. If you go to the store, inspect, pay and THEN have them ship to your FFL, there is no risk to the seller.
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    UGGGGG... Gunbroker's tech support is almost as helpful as the MVA. Have been trying for 3 days to get my account back in my control (someone requested they change the email to something that is not mine). Have been locked out and am worried that someone is doing something unauthorized using my account and abusing my perfect feedback record. Can't get anyone to respond to me... just keep getting automated messages whenever I write them that Case XYZ has been updated with your recent message. Frustrating as all get-out. No number to call... no way to directly interact with a human being. While I enjoy GunBroker and use it a lot, I may have no choice but to walk away from it if they can't get me some help soon. You would think they would be interested in routing out fraud on their system, right??

    Sigh.
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    5 days now and not so much as an acknowledgement of the problem. They have no phone number and the only e-mails are the general information and customer support ones (both of which have netted me crickets). I wrote a letter to their headquarters and put it in the mail this morning, hoping to get some reply. I'm effectively locked out of GB with someone else using my account and no way to get back in. I guess I'm just going to have to establish a new account or walk away from it (had 100% positive feedback on a lot of transactions, so I would hate to start over as a noob... lots of folks won't even deal with you unless you have a dozen or more positive feedbacks). I've used GB quite a bit over the last several years to feed my C&R addiction... sucks that they are just leaving me hanging in the wind.
     

    Doctor_M

    Certified Mad Scientist
    MDS Supporter
    So f-ing frustrated. 2 weeks now. I've emailed Gunbroker tech support 20+ times and have gotten no help in getting my hijacked account back in my control. I even wrote a letter by post and sent it to their HQ. I gave up on saving my long running 100% feedback account and tried to set up a new account... of course they flag it because there is already an account associated with my name and address. If anyone knows a way to get the knuckleheads at GB to help, I would be grateful for your advice. I really enjoy GB, especially for C&Rs, but if I can't get anyone to unlock my account, I guess I'm done. I'm sure whoever hijacked it has already destroyed my feedback record. :(
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,918
    Messages
    7,258,721
    Members
    33,348
    Latest member
    Eric_Hehl

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom