We’ve recently handled a report involving a parts purchase between members where payment was made but the goods were not delivered and the seller stopped responding.
The account involved has now been restricted.
This is a reminder that while our forum is built on trust between enthusiasts, private sales arranged between members are not controlled by the forum, and even in our quiet corner of the Internet, bad actors and scammers do appear — caveat emptor (buyer beware).
Please take a few precautions when buying parts:
• Be cautious of offers made only via PM rather than public reply
• Check the seller’s post history and length of membership
• Ask for timestamped photos of the actual parts
• Keep communication on the forum where possible
• Use payment methods with buyer protection (e.g. PayPal Goods & Services — not Friends & Family)
• Avoid sending payment to multiple accounts for one purchase
• Be wary if a seller pushes to move quickly or off-platform
If you run into a suspicious situation, please contact me or BIF and include any relevant details (usernames, dates, screenshots, transaction info if appropriate).
Most members here are genuine and helpful — just keep your wits about you when doing deals.
Peter