What is with all the scam sites for reloading components?

Foo

Active Member
Why are there all the sites that advertise components at super low prices and only take Zelle, Bitcoin, Paypal buy not credit cards? Does anyone actually buy from them? I imagine they do cuz there are a lot of them.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
News to me but just from your description I see red flags flying all over.
 

david s

Well-Known Member
This is the new target rich environment; it seems to have begun by sites that mimicked actual firearm manufacturers sites. RugerGuns- WinchesterGuns- Remington Guns ect... When people got wise to this (they actually implied they would deliver you new gun directly to your door) they shifted to the ammo side of the equation. Now they're mimicking legitimate ammo sellers. The dead give away is they only accept non protected payment, Zelle, Bitcoin ect. There still preying on peoples fears that began with Covid and the shortage of guns and ammo. People see what they think is a really good deal, so they jump without looking to closely at the seller.
 

Jeff H

NW Ohio
I've seen several "selling" guns too.

All scams. Do a general Internet search for the site name, like: "Johnstown+Gun+Sales+reviews" and you'll find sites that will tell you they are NEW and probably unreliable, as they poll their stats to see if they appear legit.

Bottom line - if they only accept digital currency - RUN!
 

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Bot only components, but actual guns! The big red flag is the Zelle, Bitcoin, Paypal!!! SAME IF you see any of those pay option on GB!!!!!!

And not just on GB, but sites set up to mimic an actual online gun retailer. They actually do a half-decent job on the visual, but no way to contact, no history, no reviews, and the big one - only one way to pay. I've seen so many wrong details on legitimate gun retailer sites that I wouldn't count on that as a clue.
 

Jeff H

NW Ohio
Here ya go.

alphexfirearms.com/product/alliant-2400-smokeless-gun-powder/
rampage-firearms.com
It gets a 39 out of 100 points - better than others I've seen, but not for me:

 

Ian

Notorious member
Here ya go.

alphexfirearms.com/product/alliant-2400-smokeless-gun-powder/
rampage-firearms.com


I actually ran across that one the other day looking for a certain powder. All items could be added to the cart, but no "in stock" quantities listed and no backorder details. I could order anything I wanted.... but it had "scam" written all over it. There was a little running popup in the lower left hand corner showing every time someone supposedly bought something and what it was. I got out fast.
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I've used Paypal for years, never had any issues. What is the concern? They got my $$$ back for me a couple times when nothing got delivered.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I've used Paypal for years, never had any issues. What is the concern? They got my $$$ back for me a couple times when nothing got delivered.
Same here. BUT we know to tread lightly as they HATE US AND WILL SHUT DOW THE ACCOUNT if they learn tour buying firearms or supplies!

CW
 

Foo

Active Member
I've used Paypal for years, never had any issues. What is the concern? They got my $$$ back for me a couple times when nothing got delivered.
They want paid using Paypal Friends and Family money transfer. That is not covered under their protection. It is like sending cash. Choose Paypal under checkout and it says Friends and Family. You will not get your money back. Pay pal says this.

What does PayPal say?​

A PayPal spokesperson said: "PayPal Buyer Protection does not cover money transfers between friends or family. If someone selling you goods or a service asks you to send a friends and family payment, you should refuse.
 

Snakeoil

Well-Known Member
When the shortages first started, I did a search for ammo for a friend who had a big hunt planned and was short on ammo. I found a site that had all kinds of reloading stuff listed and the prices were decent. When I went back into the web and put that name into Google, it brought up some reviews that said the outfit was notorious for taking your money and then saying that the item was now on backorder.
 

glassparman

"OK, OK, I'm going as fast as I don't want to go!"

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Paypal yes. But not for a GB purchase I would not. Also understand they don't like gun stuff purchases. Long as they don't know.

I got VERY lucky and got my $ back from my bank on a Zelle transaction that turned out to be a scam.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
there's a ton of scam sites popping up.
if they got stuff and no one else has it,,,,, they ain't got it either, but they got a bunch of different ways to accept your money.
some internet pop shop doesn't magically get in 400lbs. of anything when an established company like Graff's can't.

good way to check many of them is to google their address, occasionally they will show an actual shop [or a pawn shop] but that tiny shop getting in 40 flats or pallets of primers?... see above.

usually the biggest give away to it beng a scam is nt just the payment but if your allowed to put 400 lbs. of 4895 in your cart [at 22 bucks a pound] and it shows no shipping or 200 bucks worth of
haz-mat, your being hosed.
 

Ian

Notorious member
You're also the last living heir to Prince Numudie's 10 million fortune, just send your bank info for a wire transfer.