Please forward scam emails to [email protected] as soon as you receive them. Also, when you receive a response to your ad, simply "Google Search" that person’s name, email address, and/or phone number to check for previous suspicious online activity. If something from Barnstormers comes up in the Search Results, click on the “cached” option, so you will be able to read ads/pages that have already expired. In most cases, Google Search Results will reveal any scamming activity relative to that person's details.

A Phishing Scammer/Hacker is responding to classified ads with the following message:

"Pls before we proceed, kindly confirm if this is your advert below? https://www.barnstormers.com/listing.php . As I placed inquiry for two different sellers."

NOTE: The link has barnstormers.com in it, but goes to https://foirum.com/barnstormers/large/. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK !! If you do, you will be asked for your Barnstormers Password... and that is how the Scammer/Hacker will log in to your Barnstormers account.

A scammer located in Nigeria is stealing classified ads and re-posting them on Barnstormers.com . He signs up for accounts using the original advertiser's name and location but with a different phone number and email address. He is also using different names, different locations, different email addresses and different phone numbers. Please search for your classified ad at least once per day to find out if he copied and posted your ad or not.

BUYERS BEWARE !!! • ANNOUNCEMENT

Scammers are now stealing well-known aviation companies' names and logos and posting ads... so it is very difficult to know which ads are being posted legitimately versus which ads are being posted by identity thieves and scammers who are illegally displaying company names and logos. If you responded to a classified ad and are communicating by email with that company, make sure that their email address ends with the domain name associated with their company website... and not an email ending with gmail.com, outlook.com, yahoo.com, etc. etc.

BEWARE OF TEXT MESSAGES

Responding to classified ads by texting is becoming the Number One method for scammers to communicate with advertisers. Scammers respond to For Sale Ads pretending to be Buyers. Scammers also respond to Want Ads pretending to be Sellers. Here are several reports from our advertisers:

#17: ​I have a Garmin GTX-327 transponder for sale on your website for $525. Someone calling himself Randy texted me to ask if I still had it, (774) 322-1895. I replied yes and he said he would send a cashier's check. I told him Paypal would be better and I could ship it today. He said cashiers check was his only method available. I asked him what kind of airplane does he have, never a response. So I played along, and the check shows up in 2-day priority mail for $1800, from More Ink Payless LLC, Tomas Smith, 1997 Pass Rd #EAST, Gulfport MS, 39501. But the envelope indicates being mailed from 19153 ZIP code. The cashiers check is from 1st National Bank and Remitter is Christopher Jackson. He finally replies over a week later and he wants me to keep $600 plus shipping and send the rest back. I told him he's a scam and I'm not cashing his check. Haven't heard back from him."

#16: ​Just wanted to provide details from a scammer that is texting me about an ad I have for an RV12. It’s coming from two different numbers in TX (682)350-2259 and (817)592-2529 and the person claims to be David. Here is what he texted me: "Still available for sale ?? My name is David. I'd like more information about your listing. How long have you had it and your purpose of selling. Also, want to know Whats the last asking price? Sounds Great. I am very much interested to purchase from you ASAP. My financier Is ready to mail out a Certified Cashier's Check, within 24hrs to you, You will have it banked for clearance. Text me your Full name & Po Box OR Home Address where the Check will be mail to. Got it. Check will be sent to you ASAP, will keep you updated. The check will cover the cost of item and shipment so once your bank verifies and clears the check you will deduct your funds and send the excess funds to the Mover who is coming for the pick up. I know its none of your business, but due to the mover's policy that the shipment fee has to be sent by you, to show that you have permitted them to come for the pickup at your side. Please verify the details is right: Andre Robert.... waiting your reply so we can seal the deal."

#15: Good day sir i am interested in buying your aircraft...and kindly let me know the asking prize and how much is the last prize. i will make payment by cashiers check. I will send you over payment so you will deduct your own money and help me send the difference balance to my shipping company for the pickup. So you don’t bother about the shippment because i have my shipping company that will ship it. kindly send your details where the check will be mail too. both your name, postal address and send some pictures to my email address.

#14: Just wanted to let you know I had a Scammer contact me this evening about purchasing my airplane. I was contacted via text from the following number 786-480-9044, This person first inquired about the asking price of my airplane, which raised a red flag because my asking price is in my barnstormers classified ad. He then went on about how he was "OK" with the price and will be purchasing the "item" for his client, however he will not be present for the purchase and will be paying via a certified bank check. I asked him for his clients name, address, and phone number as well as his name, address, and phone number which of course he didn't give. And wouldn't you know it, he even offered me an additional $50 to take my ad off "the site". He asked me for my full name, phone number and address and signed off with the following phrase "Hope to read from you today". Lots of grammar mistakes in his texts, another huge red flag.

#13: I got a text from 319-820-1030 asking about some parachutes I have for sale. Said exactly this: “I need your full name and address. I am paying by cashiers check. I’ll add $50.00 for keeping it in my favor.”

#12: The text stream began with: “…Still available for sale?” When I responded, “Yes”, he responded: “i need your full name and address. i’m paying by Cashier Check. I’ll add $50 for keeping it in my favor.” Note: the lack of capitalization, and the last two lines about the cashier check and “keeping it in my favor” were direct quotes from the fraud alert for this phone number: (319) 820-1030. The texting person has since stopped texting, after I insisted on speaking to a human being. I saw Barnstormers fraud alert guidance. I Googled the phone number (after the person would not respond with a phone call) and found a number of fraud alerts about him in the Google Search Results.

#11: I received a text scam to an ad I have on Barnstormers for a JPI 450 Fuel Flow monitor. Phone # is 339-545-2264. Person asked for the price then my name and address and said a bank check was going to be sent and to consider the item sold. 2 texts today asking if I got the check. Then told me there was an error made when person reconciled their account and noticed I was overpaid. Said he instructed bank to issue 2 checks, one for payment and one for shipping but to deposit check anyway and the difference will be sent to the movers that would enable them to come pick up and take care of delivery process (poor English is what was texted). A "check" came today priority mail from north reading ma. USPS tracking however shows it came from San Bernadino, CA. I got one more text instructing me to deposit check immediately. Fake check made to look like it was drawn on Centennial Bank, Conway AR. Several typos on the fake check which was made out to me for $2850.00. Selling price for the JPI was $350. It's been 7 hours and I haven't heard anything further via text. I called Centennial Bank to let them know as well as my local police. Quick look at the check and it looks legit. Second look shows it was printed on regular paper and torn off a full sheet of paper.

#10: Within 24 hrs of posting, I received this text regarding my propeller ad. Verbatim:

"Hello, my name is John am interested in your SENSENICH 74"x 58" W/SPINNER $2,900 ,do you still have it for sale,pls bear wit me i would hv loved to call but i hv a temporary hearing prob due a surgery i had after an accident i was involved in,will await ur repose if its still available,thanks"

The phone of origin was 508 809 4768. A google search of the number leads to okcaller.com, where the number is associated with a series of classified ad scams.

It's such a textbook example (cut and paste item description; the 'pity hook'; John [Doe]). ("i" hv, ur; are these words really that oppressively long?) made me suspicious.

#9: "I got a txt from a txt only number saying he wanted to buy my plane.
He said his name was Thomas (no last name)
His phone number was (480)439-8508
No email address
Text was as follows:
I’m buying it for my son’s birthday as a surprise gift and he doesn’t know about it. No shipment is involved as I have a mover that will come for the pickup. I’m OK with the price and Condition. I can only pay you via one of the fastest and secure way to pay on line (Pay Pal). Do you have a Pay Pal account?
Next text was:
Kindly get back to me with your full name & Pay Pal email address so I can proceed with payment.
I told him I would only accept cash or Cert. cashier check. His next txt was:
I would have loved to send the pick-up agent with cash or a cashiers but they won’t deal with a cash transaction between buyer and seller. I hope to hear back from you and proceed with this transaction.. I want you to know that Pay Pal is the best online payment and they protect their customer."

#8: "I received a buy order from [email protected]. He wired money, he says, to PayPal. He needed $1,500 dollars to cover shipping company pickup. The amount was also added to the $32,500 selling price of plane. The tipoff came when he said to go to Western Union to wire money to shippers. They would supply pilot to pickup plane."

#7: The first actual contact I had was via text message. Below is the verbatim message which I received (caps, punctuation and text exactly as typed). It was sent in two parts. "Good evening, Please am making inquiry regarding your Aircraft add on Barnstormers. pls get back to me with your final price on my email ([email protected]) Thank you!!!" I responded. He responded back with the following (typed exactly as received): "Thanks for the text, Please get back to me on my email as am kind of busy on here...." . Another message From: James Guan "Thank you for the reply. I am buying it for my Dad as a gift and I want it as a surprise package to appreciate him for his achievements for humanity in general and should be delivered before my arrival to Wisconsin because I stayed in Wisconsin.(home address ;2001 S Main St Oshkosh, WI 54902). I am working as a Construction Engineer and we are presently at USA/Mexico border and we do not have access to long distance calling at the moment so am working 15days offshore that is why I have contacted you and you can easily text me on my phone number 979- 217 -2699 or Email. Please I will need to ask a few questions from you:
- Where is it located at the moment and can I see closer pictures?
- Does it have any history I should be aware of?
- Do you have a reason of selling it and what is your asking price?
Kindly, write me back to know your decision regarding the item and I will like to be the final buyer and waiting for your reply. Thank you !!!"

#6: "I listed my Cessna 150 yesterday afternoon. Last night I got a text message from 323 521 9305 asking if the 150 was still for sale. Said she was Margaret Bowman from California. I knew that it was a scam but replied yes it was. I then got the usual message that they would send the check and make arrangements to pick up the plane. I replied, because of past scams, that I would need to be very sure that their money was good before the plane was released and to call me if that was OK. That got rid of them."

#5: "I received a text from 323-643-9997 that asked if I still had the project. When I replied, I received a reply that says "Okay I will pay $13,000 but I will mail you a check through UPS tomorrow and when you get the check on Thursday I will arrange for pick up... what is name and address to mail check to?"

#4: "I'm getting the same scam inquiry on this ad that I got last week on the other ad. Starts as a text message from 323-643-9997: "Still available? I'm Tina Prett from California."

#3: "I want to inform you that the UPS will deliver the money to you today. However, my Financial Officer mistakenly sent you $2350 which was supposed to be sent to my insurance company. Please deduct your $350 from the money, and please send the rest Cash via Money gram to me." - Scammer

#2: "I pfaced an ad for sale, an 0SMOH A65 engine. I got an immediate texted response from a Laura Albertjons from L.A. Phone number 310-307-0958. She asked me to change the ad to reflect that it was sold (which I did) and she would have a cashiers check to me this morning in the mail. The check did not arrive and no one will answer my text or phone messages."

"We had a canopy for sale. This guy named James texted me from 347-450-6077 and said he will take it and UPS's me 2 cashiers checks for 950.00 each. He then says in the text: ohh noo, i need to pay my insurance, please deposit both checks and Western Union me the extra 950.00. The US postal cashiers checks are so good even the post office didn't know, but I turned them over to them for review and frying this crook."

#1: "I listed a prop last week and immediately got a txt from a guy saying he was interested in buying it. He sent two USPS money orders, then said that there was a mix up and asked if I could send the balance back to his insurance agent via Western Union. Obvious scam, the money orders will be turned over to the USPS for further investigation."

Scammers are calling advertisers and pretending to be selling advertising services (for a fee) for which the scammers promise to post your classified ad on other websites. One scammer claims to be a "licensed eBay dealer". Here are two reports from our advertisers:

"While having my aircraft posted on barnstormers I received calls from multiple people wanting to post my planes on additional websites for a fee. After getting hounded, I finally relented and paid one group $299.00 to advertise my plane on additional websites. I received a link to one website with 12 views (3 of which were mine) and the ad contained pictures of a boat. I contacted the group to fix the picture and provide me with the other websites where my plane would be posted and have never heard back. Please alert folks that this is a fraud."

"I had a voicemail message from a lady today regarding the ad. It sounded sort of fishy so I googled her telephone number. It sounds like it could be some sort of a scam according to the responses I read about receiving unwanted calls from that number. She identified herself to others as an RV type dealer (not the plane - the camper)!"

Please be aware that a scammer is responding to Want Ads by texting advertisers' phone numbers.

The scammer uses the following phone numbers:
832-589-0122, 832-589-0112, 347-871-3342.

Following are some examples of his text messages:

From barnstormers about the wanted parts you want. have got it available for sale.

Where are you located? Will be needing your full address fuct your selling price from the money and transfer my balance to the shipper via western union money transfer for the shipment.

I will be happy if you can provide me the requested details as listed below:
Full name...
Residential address...
City..
State..
Zip code...
Country...
Phone number:
Cell Phone:........
Home Phone:............
Agreed selling price ..
I look forward to your details

Hello
Thanks for the mail,
I am okay with the pictures and details listed online, I will like you to
know that i will be sending you a non refundable deposit in a cashiers
check.the deposit is to hold the aircraft available as i want my agent to
come and inspect the aircraft on my behalf at the moment.
You are to deduct $1,000.00 non refundable deposit from the check as your
deposit to secure the aircraft till my agent arrives.
The $1,000.00 non refundable deposit you are deducting from the check is
for you to hold the aircraft available due to the fact that i do not want
to lose this aircraft.
The check will come with excess funds and the difference after removing
the $1000 non refundable deposit of the check will be wired to my agent
after you must have received the check and deducted your own share
$1,000.00 non refundable deposit.
The $1,000.00 is not part of the sale asking price for the aircraft it only
a non refundable deposit to hold the aircraft available for my agent to
arrive in your location to inspect the aircraft
I want my agent to come to your location and inspect the aircraft in person
with you.
Once you receive the check and wire the excess funds to the agent,I will
give you date and time when my agent will come for inspection of the
aircraft and if he is satisified with the stated condition of the
aircraft,the funds for the aircraft will be wired in cash through your bank
account
If ONLY you do agree with the above stated conditions,Please confirm this
and provide payment information for check payment to be delivered to you
via Courier. Payment Information:
1,Your name,
2, Full contact address
3, City,Zip Code
4, Cell Phone#
NB--Due to numerous scams that i have encountered in the past,i will have to call You on phone after You send details to verify that Your are actually the one selling.

Hi,
Thanks for the mail, I really appreciate your prompt reply and i'm glad you are selling to me... First,I'm okay with the selling cost, secondly i don't want you to bother about the shipping process,I have a shipping company that handles my shipments,All you need do is to keep the item in a safe and good condition.

I will instruct my staff associate to issue out a check for the payment and shipping to you, When you get the payment you are to deduct your $550 for the item and send the remaining funds to my shipper via Western Union or Money Gram to enable him come down to your location for the pickup. I bought some other mechandise too and my shipper will be picking them up also,so they will need the remaining funds to enable them come for the pickup.

It takes 1-2 working days to clear a check, so check must clear before pickup. Notify me immediately when you get the funds so i will email you with my shipper's information who will be coming for the pickup at your location. "I HOPE I CAN TRUST YOU WITH MY FUNDS", you are to also deduct $100 from the money for the stress and hazzle you may go through in cashing and wire the remaining funds to my shipper... I'm sure you can await the payment in the mail, It will be sent to the Information you will provide for me:

Full name...
Residential address...
City..
State..
Zipcode...
Country...
Cell Phone number...
Home Phone number...

Can you remove it from the posting and consider it sold to me? I will be happy if you can do that today ok..I will be looking forward to read from you.

Regard.

Thank You

Hello

Thanks for the mail,

I am okay with the pictures and details listed online, I will like you to know that i will be sending you a non refundable deposit in a cashiers check.the deposit is to hold the aircraft available as i want my agent to come and inspect the aircraft on my behalf at the moment.

You are to deduct $1,000.00 non refundable deposit from the check as your deposit to secure the aircraft till my agent arrives.

The $1,000.00 non refundable deposit you are deducting from the check is for you to hold the aircraft available due to the fact that i do not want to lose this aircraft.

The check will come with excess funds and the difference after removing the $1000 non refundable deposit of the check will be wired to my agent after you must have received the check and deducted your own share $1,000.00 non refundable deposit.

The $1,000.00 is not part of the sale asking price for the aircraft it only a non refundable deposit to hold the aircraft available for my agent to arrive in your location to inspect the aircraft

I want my agent to come to your location and inspect the aircraft in person with you.

Once you receive the check and wire the excess funds to the agent,I will give you date and time when my agent will come for inspection of the aircraft and if he is satisified with the stated condition of the aircraft,the funds for the aircraft will be wired in cash through your bank account

If ONLY you do agree with the above stated conditions,Please confirm this and provide payment information for check payment to be delivered to you via Courier. Payment Information:

1,Your name,

2, Full contact address

3, City,Zip Code

4, Cell Phone#

NB---Also be aware that I will give you a call to confirm your details only after i receive the details requested and if you are not interested ,do not bother to reply...

Thanks

Hello,

It sounds nice to know that it is still available for sale. I have read through your advert and I am satisfied with it. I am Okay with the asking price and would love to go ahead with the deal right away.I am contacting you via email because I don't have access to phone presently. I am a marine engineer and I am presently on duty otherwise I would have called you to discuss about the transaction.

I want you to consider the it sold to me by withdrawing the posting. I don't mind adding an extra $20.00 for you so as to be rest assured that it is all mine.

Moreover, I also want you to know that my mode of payment is via cashier check and it is going to be an overnight payment due to the distance. So, I will need you to provide the following information for me so as to facilitate the mailing of the check .

1. Your full name
2. Your mailing address [be it residential address]
3. Your phone number.


***Please note that the shipping of the item is my responsibility as I will have my mover come over for the pick up as soon as you have cashed the check. I wait to read back from you with the info ASAP.

Thanks

BE AWARE OF INTERNET FRAUD

Barnstormers, Inc. does not become involved, in any way, with transactions between buyers and sellers advertising on Barnstormers. Should you be informed that Barnstormers is involved in a buyer and seller transaction, consider it fraud.

THE BEST ADVICE BARNSTORMERS HAS TO OFFER AT THIS TIME: Most major U.S. cities have a Fraud Task Force and it is usually sponsored by the Secret Service. Try to find and make contact with your local Fraud Task Force. They can give you immediate help if you have become involved in a scam.

Please also report scams to Barnstormers AND the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center AND the U.S. government-sponsored Internet Crime Complaint Center. Unfortunately, the FBI generally will not take a case if it involves less than $100,000. The U.S. Postal Service has the same threshold. We understand, however, that scams involving avionics under $100K will be investigated by the FBI.

If you are a Seller, read the Guidelines for Sellers...
If you are a Buyer, read the Guidelines for Buyers...

GUIDELINES FOR SELLERS

Legitimate buyers will furnish name, address and telephone number... whereas scammers do not. Scammers, like the examples on this page, usually say the same thing... that they will send you a check for more than what you are selling for. Normally, they send you a counterfeit cashier's check. Here's how it works:

1. The scammer wants you to send the balance (between the amount on the check and the cost of the item) to them right away.

2. Not all banks are wise to the counterfeit check, especially if it's a counterfeit cashier's check, and sometimes it takes three weeks for it to come back. By that time, you have already sent the balance AND the merchandise. Then the bank wants its money back from you.

Any mention of a client or debtor owing money, overpayment, Western Union, international shipper is a red flag... these are scams and should be treated as such. That's how to recognize scammers. They are hitting all the aircraft, watercraft and automobile classified ads websites on the Internet. There is nothing much that you can do.

Another type of scammer meets with you in person, with check in hand.(Read EXAMPLE #8 below). Every aircraft seller should make a point of carrying a camera and taking a picture of each buyer when they come with check in hand. Also, every aircraft seller should ask to see the buyer's driver's license and copy down the ID number, birthdate, etc., like store clerks write on a check.

Following are examples of scams that have been reported by sellers on Barnstormers.

EXAMPLE #1 - SCAM REPORT SUBMITTED BY ADVERTISER: I need your advice on what appears to me to be a scam. "Hello, how are you doing today? its so good to tal;k to you on phone. well in regards to the plane i will pay you $45,000 but my engineer will have to comer and inspect it, But for you to know that i am very serious about it and i also want you to help me keep this plane so that another buyer wont get it. So i will pay you 10% of the total amount. I will pay yiou by the most secure way which is bank wire transfer into your company account.I cant risk sending checks because these days there are lots of hell in the states about checks. So i will like to hear back from you as soon as possible. there is no problem with that at all i will make wire transfer by 12pm tomorrow so you will have money into your accopunt by 12 pm on saturday so in order for me to make the $4300 into your account give me info such as
Account name...
Account Number...
Routing Number...
Bank name and Address...
So as soon as i get this info i will make the payment soonest. I am really serious about this so get back to me very soon. thanks Andrew" Thinking there might be some legitimate buyer out there, I contacted my bank and followed their instructions. I sent the scammer a bank routing number by which he may transfer funds to our Federal Reserve Bank. I also gave him the Bank name and its local address. When Federal Reserve receives the transfer, they call my bank who in turn calls me and gets from me the account I want it deposited into. The bank advised me not to give out my address and checking account number."

EXAMPLE #2 - SCAM REPORT SUBMITTED BY ADVERTISER: "Someone attempted to scam me today, and I wanted to pass along the details in case you haven't heard of this before. Perhaps it is worth mentioning to others who have ads listed on your site. I was contacted (via AT&T's Internet Relay service) by a person claiming to be interested in the airplane I have listed on Barnstormers. The caller stated they wanted to buy my airplane without even seeing it. This person then said that in order to ensure no one else would buy it before he could pick it up, he wanted to give me a deposit. He told me that he felt checks were unsafe and wanted to complete the transaction via a wire transfer. I was a little leary that someone would agree to purchase any airplane without seeing it first, and I was convinced it was a scam when the person repeatedly insisted that I give him my account/routing numbers. He even persisted when I offered to hold the plane for him without a deposit."

EXAMPLE #3 - SCAM REPORTED BY ADVERTISER: "I am Robert Macuby and am intersted in buying your good l'm okay with the price and would like you to know that payment will be remitted to you by my client in the usa that is owing me over goods I bought from him but due to delayment over, coming for the pick up he had to sell it off to someone else hoping to get me another before i will come for the pick up but couldn't, so he will issue you the amount beening a cancelling order which i pfaced with him and it will be remitted to you on a bankers draft or money order. Also, my shipper will make an arrangement to come for the pick-up at your location. If this is okay by you, provide your contact details and phone number on which payment can be remitted to you immediately. I wait to read from you soonest, Regards...... Joseph"

EXAMPLE #4 - SCAM REPORT SUBMITTED BY ADVERTISER: Following is a scam I encountered while selling my PA28/140. The scammer was buying my plane for his client and actually sent me a cashier's check for $7,000 more than I wanted for my plane and asked me to send back the change. It had to be sent Western Union. I got the FBI involved and called the bank the check was drawn on in West Virginia. The bank said they get 100 calls a day on this guy and they also had the FBI working on it down there. He went by the name J. Blanc. I jerked him along for a couple weeks, promising to send him his change while I worked with the FBI on catching him. In the end, it appeared he was from the U.K.

EXAMPLE #5 - SCAM REPORTED BY ADVERTISER: "We are interested in buying your above mentioned product (3 BLADES PROP) at advertised rate of $450.00. Goods to be picked up from your location for onward shipping to London. Cost and modalities of shipping to be born by us. Payment for the purchase is by check through a debtor in US. The debtor owes us higher than our purchase. He will therefore be sending you a check for $5,000 to cover the cost of our order, as well as the Shipping costs. On receipt of the check, you will cash and deduct the cost of our order. The balance you will send as we would instruct you to the Agency that will ship the Goods to us. If this arrangement suites you fine, please send us your address where to send the check, as well as the name to be on it. Also send us your phone number for easy communication. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Best Regards, MR. KEN OWEN"

EXAMPLE #6 - NIGERIAN COUNTERFEIT CHECK SCAM • INDUSTRY ALERT • The Nigerian Counterfeit Check scam artists are hitting this site in full force. Here is another example of emails that they send to sellers: "We are interested in buying your above mentioned products at the above rate. Craft to be shipped to London. Cost and modalities of shipping to be born by us. Payment for the purchase is by check through a debtor in US. The debtor owes us higher than our purchase. He will therefore be sending you a check for $11,500 to cover the cost of our order, as well as the Shipping costs. On receipt of the check, you will cash and deduct the cost of our order .The balance you will send as we would instruct you to the Agency that will ship the Goods to us. If this arrangement suites you fine, please send us your address where to send the check, as well as the name to be on it. Also send us your phone number for easy communication. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Best regards, Mr. John Daniels."

EXAMPLE #7 - ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NIGERIAN COUNTERFEIT CHECK SCAM • INDUSTRY ALERT • Email received: "Am interested in buying your (Your Product) which price is $2650 firstly i will like to know the present condition of it because am a distributor of it in west africa so one of my client is owing me the amount of $7,000 and he is sending you a certified cashier's check of that amount drawn in america bank so dont worry about the shipment ,i have a shipping agent that will come for the pickup.so what you will do is just deduct your fund and send the excess amount through money gramm to my shipping agent that will come for the pickup at your destination.I will want a trust wothy fellow to transact business with me,so if this is acceptable with you i will want you to forward me your FULL name,ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER that you will use in receiving the check as soon as possible. EXPECTING YOUR MAIL SOONEST. camelian." And here's a note from Jon Kilpatrick: "I had one of these nigeran fellows contact me. I was sent a cashiers check drawn on an american bank I took the check to my bank and had it verified the numbers were good. Deposited the check and got it back in a few days. It was a forged check with a good account number. It fooled my bank. Thought I would pass info along to you."

EXAMPLE #8 - THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED BY A BARNSTORMERS ADVERTISER: Buyer calls up from Oklahoma. Asks all about the plane I have for sale. We come to agreement. He comes to my location in Missouri on Friday at 5 pm. Offers $25K in a bank check. I said yes I will take it. We fly a bit. I am trusting this middle-aged American guy. I noticed his car tags were Texas. No big deal Right? But he said he was from Oklahoma. With a closer look I noticed the car keys tag showed a Galveston rental. I looked closer at the check. NO watermark. And just lines on the back. I stopped him from taking the plane. NO deal until I check out this check. I offer to deliver the plane after check has cleared. He argued that it's good and insisted on not leaving the check without taking the plane. "NO deal," I said. Come back on Monday and we can complete the deal with a bank transfer. He agreed aggravated and left. The phone number he gave was a prepay phone (no longer working). His name shows up nowhere. There is no Wells Fargo Independent branch in Oklahoma City. He had it all worked out!

EXAMPLE #9 - THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED BY A BARNSTORMERS ADVERTISER: An email received in response to his ad: Dear respected one, I am writting you this letter with due respect and heart full of tears as i am in need of your urgent help and immediate assistance. I am ALFRED KONE,the only child of late MR and MRS EDWARD YAO KONE, FROM IVORY COAST here in West Africa. My father was a wealthy Cocoa merchant, well known in almost all over the West African sub-region before he was poisoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings to discuss a business deal. My father took me so special being his only child (SON) after the death of my mother years back, and before the sudden death of my father two months ago in a private hospital here in Abidjan, he secretly called me on his sickbed and told me that he has a sum of USD$5,500.000 (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand United States dollars) deposited in one of the international banks here in Abidjan, and that he declared to the bank on the day he deposited the money that it belongs to his foreign business partner who will be submitting an account information for onward transfer of the money to Overseas. My father also explained to me before he died that it was because of his wealth and some huge amount of money his business associates supposed to balance him from the sales of Cocoa that he was poisoned. My father advised me incase he died to seek for a God fearing foreign person in a country of my choice, who will help me stand as his foreign partner and transfer the money out from the bank here in Abidjan for my future life. However, i am honourably seeking your assistance to stand as my late father's foreign business partner/beneficiary of this money for easy and immedaite transfer to your bank account,because i am afraid that the people who poisoned my father might be also after my dear life. For your information,my father did not mentioned any particular name to the bank as his foreign business partner, but he declared that the money belongs to his foreign business partner for the security and safety of the money and to avoid much questions that always arised if someone deposited a huge amount of money in the bank here. Every Documents covering this money in the bank is intact with me, and i will tell you what is required for the transfer of this money to your account once you accepted to assist me. I have made up my mind to offer you 20% of the total sum for your kind assistance. Email me. Hoping to hearing from you soonest, Thanks, Yours sincerely, ALFRED KONE.

GUIDELINES FOR BUYERS

Barnstormers receives and maintains a record of complaints and suspicion alerts offered by prospective buyers against Barnstormers advertisers. Most fraudulent advertisers are selling avionics, but not all. Some are selling engines, props, as well as aircraft. When Barnstormers Administration receives an inquiry, a complaint, or a "suspicion" alert, the email received is recorded on the applicable advertiser's account.

For example, recent "suspicion" alerts contributed by prospective buyers resulted in nine advertisers' accounts being closed down after investigation. ALL of the "suspicious" ads offered avionics at hundreds of dollars below the current market price. The ads were posted by the same person using different names, different email addresses and different hangar accounts. The scammer also used other people's credit cards to pay for his upgraded ads with pictures. In addition, the scammer is requesting that the transaction be done through non-existent escrow companies that have existing websites. Without the help of Barnstormers visitors, we would not have been able to identify the suspicious ads and advertisers.

BUYER SAFETY TIP - Never pay for your item using instant cash transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram.

Following are examples of scams that have been reported by buyers on Barnstormers.

ALERT #1 - SUBMITTED BY PROSPECTIVE BUYER: We are in the business of buying and selling used avionics. We have noticed a pattern among recent listings, and I am intersted in learning if you are aware of this pattern, or more importantly, any complaints. In two recent ads, for a GNS-430 system and a KLN-94 system, the sellers are using a shipping / escrow system called "DWC Company". The web site for this company is http://www.dwc-company.com/. I have never heard of them before. The prices for both systems are quite good, which also raises red flags. Are you aware of people using this service? Are you aware of any complaints or problems? I'm sure that you want to keep this as clean a marketpface as possible, and I really appreciate your help.

ALERT #2 - SUBMITTED BY PROSPECTIVE BUYER: The seller wants a wu or wire transfer and has suggested using an off brand escrow service. See a copy of his email and a link to comments about this "escrow service" below. "Hello, I can sell you the unit but its with a shipping company in PA. Its there because I already had a potential buyer who backed out because they couldn't afford it. Using this company you have 5 days inspection period and in this time they will hold your money. If you are not satisifed you can return it and they will return you all amount. If you are happy with it they will send me your money and this deal is close. The name of the company is www.dwc-company.com. For start this deal you have to register and they will send you more info for payment and shipping. Thanks,"

ALERT #3 - SUBMITTED BY PROSPECTIVE BUYER: There are some scammers working your website. I can identify there ads. They have been running an ad for a Garmin 430. When you email them they send you a discription of a 6 month old radio that was on eBay. Then they send you to a website called online shipping which is a fake shipping copany providing escrow service. Can these people be turned in to some law enforcement agency? I'm sure they will trick somebody. Thanks for your attention.

ALERT #4 - SUBMITTED BY PROSPECTIVE BUYER: Hello Barnstormers, I want to report one ad in your database that is a FRAUD Attempt/Scam. The following announcment is trying to fool the buyers, diverting them to one inexistent escrow company called DWC. The local police officer checked the address and confirmed that the company does not exist. Please react fast and prevent further problems for your visitors.

ALERT #5 - SUBMITTED BY PROSPECTIVE BUYER: I may have been scammed by a Barnstormers seller. He had an ad on May 25th selling a GNS430. I have not been able to get in touch with him or the third party holding company that supposedly held the item until I sent the money. I did look up the holding company and talked to them twice before I sent the money, but now I can not get on their web site: www.fastonlineshipping.com. And I have not received the item. Have you had any reports on this guy or this holding company?