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DRoc

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
139
Good day,

I’d like to share my most recent experience with a forum member here on CPF that I had a negative experience with.

Before I continue, I’d like to mention that I got scammed. Used the PayPal Gift option and had nothing but problems. Not looking or asking for any sympathy, so please save the comments.

Before anyone jumps on me for using that gift option and getting scammed, realize that I know this, and take responsibility for what I lost. So, mind your manners and be polite-because it can happen to anyone. I’m also the one in the incandescent forum that posted guidelines on this-so further shame on me, and I own it.

So Malkoff MDC CR123a x1 are sold out on his site. I decided to put a request in on the WTB forum. I live in Canada, and it’s pretty expensive with their cost of shipping which is flat rate to Canada. Plus tariffs and customs and everything. Very cost prohibitive.

The member in question here is 1973flowslight. This person never introduced themselves, but it looked like they go by Barlow.

Their email used is [email protected].

So we went through the usual buyer seller interaction, and all seemed well. He sent me pictures that looked legit and overall he seemed legit and genuine.

Then I sent him funds through PayPal gift. That’s when everything went silent. After a few days he responds back and makes an excuse that he’s busy and all that. Of course. Says he will send me pictures once it’s all packed up.

Then I get an email prefaced with “Hello my friend…so sorry, but I need more money for shipping…”

We had already agreed on a price, previously.

The name that I sent the money to in PayPal is Wendy Barlow. Member has 10001 as their zip code, here on his profile, and their area code is 515.

They joined CPF in December 2025, with a grand total of three posts.

His posts and language seemed genuine, but obviously he’s not. I should have known better…

My point here is that folks read and understand that this can happen to anyone. I’m usually pretty sharp with online stuff, but this time I obviously let my guard down. Shame on me, and I own it.

So yes, got scammed.

Thats it, that’s all. Stay frosty and vigilant and be safe out there. Someone truly is out to get each and every one of us real genuine people.

Take care and keep the hotwire burning!
 
Genuinely sorry you got scammed. But no, it couldn't happen to just anyone.
Two huge red-flags. Insistence on using P.P. Gift, and extremely recent join date on CPF. I'm not saying all new members are scammers. Just saying, they haven't been around long enough to have earned a solid reputation in our community.

I buy WAY too much stuff online. There have been a couple of times that sellers insisted on P.P. Gift as the payment option. I politely but immediately turn them down, and never attempt to buy anything from them ever again.
 
DRoc said:
Good day,

I’d like to share my most recent experience with a forum member here on CPF that I had a negative experience with.

Before I continue, I’d like to mention that I got scammed. Used the PayPal Gift option and had nothing but problems. Not looking or asking for any sympathy, so please save the comments.

Before anyone jumps on me for using that gift option and getting scammed, realize that I know this, and take responsibility for what I lost. So, mind your manners and be polite-because it can happen to anyone. I’m also the one in the incandescent forum that posted guidelines on this-so further shame on me, and I own it.

So Malkoff MDC CR123a x1 are sold out on his site. I decided to put a request in on the WTB forum. I live in Canada, and it’s pretty expensive with their cost of shipping which is flat rate to Canada. Plus tariffs and customs and everything. Very cost prohibitive.

The member in question here is 1973flowslight. This person never introduced themselves, but it looked like they go by Barlow.

Their email used is [email protected].

So we went through the usual buyer seller interaction, and all seemed well. He sent me pictures that looked legit and overall he seemed legit and genuine.

Then I sent him funds through PayPal gift. That’s when everything went silent. After a few days he responds back and makes an excuse that he’s busy and all that. Of course. Says he will send me pictures once it’s all packed up.

Then I get an email prefaced with “Hello my friend…so sorry, but I need more money for shipping…”

We had already agreed on a price, previously.

The name that I sent the money to in PayPal is Wendy Barlow. Member has 10001 as their zip code, here on his profile, and their area code is 515.

They joined CPF in December 2025, with a grand total of three posts.

His posts and language seemed genuine, but obviously he’s not. I should have known better…

My point here is that folks read and understand that this can happen to anyone. I’m usually pretty sharp with online stuff, but this time I obviously let my guard down. Shame on me, and I own it.

So yes, got scammed.

Thats it, that’s all. Stay frosty and vigilant and be safe out there. Someone truly is out to get each and every one of us real genuine people.

Take care and keep the hotwire burning!
Click to expand...
I hate to tell you this, but it's very likely a fake account on all counts using someone else's name and similar identities. I hope that whoever it is makes good on their end of the agreement, or at least returns the money.
 
Monocrom said:
Genuinely sorry you got scammed. But no, it couldn't happen to just anyone.
Two huge red-flags. Insistence on using P.P. Gift, and extremely recent join date on CPF. I'm not saying all new members are scammers. Just saying, they haven't been around long enough to have earned a solid reputation in our community.

I buy WAY too much stuff online. There have been a couple of times that sellers insisted on P.P. Gift as the payment option. I politely but immediately turn them down, and never attempt to buy anything from them ever again.
Click to expand...
Well it looks like it could just happen to anyone. There’s a platinum member below that has something similar
 
I don't think Goshandtem's efforts here will produce the desired results. 😁


Image 4-18-26 at 10.34 AM.jpeg
 
They got me…again. Some dirty rat forkers emptied my bank account. Granted, I only had $209 to my name, but somehow they got my debit card info, and ran up multiple charges. I got most of it back, but I still don’t know how. The only place I use my card is quick chek, and that’s at the register. Lately I haven’t even carried the card.
 
aginthelaw said:
Lately I haven’t even carried the card.
Click to expand...
Online shopping with the card, perhaps some payment portal got hacked, who knows.

Quickchek, possibly subpoena their footage and review it for evidence of someone installing a card skimmer. It's hard to tell, some skimmers look like a part of the card reader. Many times if this is the case, employees could be involved.

If you subscribe to a more paranoid route, someone could have a RAT forker watching your phone screen, getting the card info that way. Maybe your kids used it for roblox...I find it most impressive that you got the money back that quickly, most banks sit on it because it's yours and not theirs.

This part will freak you out as well, some sites store sensitive information in plain text, with the rationale that "There's billions of unlocked doors, but you'll only find it if you know which door it's behind". Also, put a freeze or lock on your credit, I'm sure you're well aware by now of the whole Social Security fiasco by that data scraper.
 
I've had a card number stolen twice. The first time one guy in California used it to open an online gambling account but spent zero and some woman used it to buy an Experian credit report on herself. Um, RED FLAG, Experian? Who uses a card *not in their own name* to pay for a credit report on themself?

I got the money back from Experian.

The second time someone at a NASCAR race in the southeast used my number to buy food and a nice jacket and hat. I got that money back too.
 
I got most of it. The last one is being difficult. They told me to contact the merchant. Riiiiggghttt!!! So they can scam me some more and start spamming my email account? Or give my number to a political party to have them call me about their candidates?
 
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