ThinBullet
Active member
There's not a day goes by where I don't see a post about someone being scammed out of the golf gear they were selling. I know some folk are savvy, but not all are. I've sold and traded probably more than my local pro shop in the last 3 years, not to make money, but to try different gear, and here's a few things, I've noticed.
PayPal Friends and Family is a one way transaction.
If you're the buyer, you cannot guarantee something will be sent. The best advice is to not trust a random stranger with goods on the internet. Happens a lot with lake balls.
If the store doesn't have a proper shop protected by HTTPS, then leave it alone.
Standard PayPal payment
This has stung a few. Everything looks legit, and you send the goods, and receive payment, but a few weeks later, the buyer can ask for the money back via PayPal buyer protection, saying the goods are damaged, and you won't get your goods back, or the money.
Only do and accept this when buying/selling in person. It's also a one way transaction, and NEVER send anything other than an Account Number or Sort Code. I'm not 100% sold on this practice personally, as people can set up direct debits for goods using your details, so be very careful.
The popular scam around just now is when they message you to say the pictures aren't clear, and to send originals to their email address.
Do not do this. It's informing them of a live email address to launch further attacks, and it's not monitored by Gumtree. The focus of scammers here is to steer you away from Gumtree and into an alternative form of communication.
FB can be quite good as there can be more transparency on who is buying/selling, but keep in mind that some accounts can be hacked and controlled by a scammer. Password reuse is a strong attack vector online, and people can gain access to a FB account from a reused password from another hacked service they use.
The browser version of Messenger won't give you access to the persons profile, but the mobile application version does, so you can look into their account to see whether they really are from the town they claim to be. Usually protects against a long winded conversation too about postage, if you can halt the conversation early, knowing where they are from.
This is less of a scam, but more of an annoyance. GC4C offer a service where you can upload pictures of your gear, and they'll reply pretty quickly, with a valuation of it's worth. Low ballers looking to make money on your gear, will use this service, and upload your pictures on their account, and use the lower end quote against you. Once they work their magic in demoralising you to the point where you accept the much lower price, they sell the gear on at a much higher price on another platform. Usually, they float around FB, buy the gear, then sell it on Gumtree.
Key here is to put your name and date in every picture if possible.
Sadly, the rise in aftermarket driver/wood shafts has increased the likelihood of fakes. If you search Ali Express for this type of thing, you'll see thousands of sellers. Ebay is the main middle ground for selling this stuff. Graphite Design shafts, and Fujikura Ventus are the most counterfeited shafts going. Mizuno MP irons are also very much a target for counterfeiters, as they are easily cast by huge factories.
Graphite Design have a site where you can compare shafts. https://proschoicegolfshafts.com/counterfeit-shaft-warning-2/.
Fujikura have an email service where you can send them the serial number printed under the grip that they can use to tell you if the shaft is real or not. Graphite Design have a hologram under the grip too, and newer shafts have "Accuracy and Design" printed near the hosel, where the fake shafts don't.
Overall Summary
Scamming, information gathering and theft is on a serious population rise.
- Paying via PayPal
PayPal Friends and Family is a one way transaction.
If you're the buyer, you cannot guarantee something will be sent. The best advice is to not trust a random stranger with goods on the internet. Happens a lot with lake balls.
If the store doesn't have a proper shop protected by HTTPS, then leave it alone.
Standard PayPal payment
This has stung a few. Everything looks legit, and you send the goods, and receive payment, but a few weeks later, the buyer can ask for the money back via PayPal buyer protection, saying the goods are damaged, and you won't get your goods back, or the money.
- Paying by Bank Transfer
Only do and accept this when buying/selling in person. It's also a one way transaction, and NEVER send anything other than an Account Number or Sort Code. I'm not 100% sold on this practice personally, as people can set up direct debits for goods using your details, so be very careful.
- Gumtree Scams
The popular scam around just now is when they message you to say the pictures aren't clear, and to send originals to their email address.
Do not do this. It's informing them of a live email address to launch further attacks, and it's not monitored by Gumtree. The focus of scammers here is to steer you away from Gumtree and into an alternative form of communication.
- Facebook Marketplace
FB can be quite good as there can be more transparency on who is buying/selling, but keep in mind that some accounts can be hacked and controlled by a scammer. Password reuse is a strong attack vector online, and people can gain access to a FB account from a reused password from another hacked service they use.
The browser version of Messenger won't give you access to the persons profile, but the mobile application version does, so you can look into their account to see whether they really are from the town they claim to be. Usually protects against a long winded conversation too about postage, if you can halt the conversation early, knowing where they are from.
- GolfClubs4Cash (GC4C) annoyance
This is less of a scam, but more of an annoyance. GC4C offer a service where you can upload pictures of your gear, and they'll reply pretty quickly, with a valuation of it's worth. Low ballers looking to make money on your gear, will use this service, and upload your pictures on their account, and use the lower end quote against you. Once they work their magic in demoralising you to the point where you accept the much lower price, they sell the gear on at a much higher price on another platform. Usually, they float around FB, buy the gear, then sell it on Gumtree.
Key here is to put your name and date in every picture if possible.
- Aftermarket shafts and Mizuno blades
Sadly, the rise in aftermarket driver/wood shafts has increased the likelihood of fakes. If you search Ali Express for this type of thing, you'll see thousands of sellers. Ebay is the main middle ground for selling this stuff. Graphite Design shafts, and Fujikura Ventus are the most counterfeited shafts going. Mizuno MP irons are also very much a target for counterfeiters, as they are easily cast by huge factories.
Graphite Design have a site where you can compare shafts. https://proschoicegolfshafts.com/counterfeit-shaft-warning-2/.
Fujikura have an email service where you can send them the serial number printed under the grip that they can use to tell you if the shaft is real or not. Graphite Design have a hologram under the grip too, and newer shafts have "Accuracy and Design" printed near the hosel, where the fake shafts don't.
Overall Summary
Scamming, information gathering and theft is on a serious population rise.
- Trust no one (Sadly)
- Due diligence checks on who your are selling to and buying from
- Don't send money to strangers for anything.
- In person meet up is advised.
- Don't use PayPal for personal transactions with strangers.
- Ask for as much information as you can with equipment, especially aftermarket shafts, Scotty Cameron putters, and modern blades.
