Oldgas.com Home  

Click here for Gas Pump auction listings


Home | Help | Events | Auctions | Parts | Pictures | Links | Contact
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
Petro Enthusiast
OP Online Content
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
All of us know that Ebay is a cesspool of fake signs but this blight has now hit Facebook Marketplace in a much more deceitful form. I've seen this scam enough times now that it warrants mention here so that all of you are aware of the games going on over on Facebook Marketplace.

This is how the catch and release scam works:
1) The scammer populates about 12 items for sale in Facebook Marketplace in several different Localized Garage Sale/Flea Market groups. This is done across a wide area such as the mid Atlantic region or New England. These are just examples but the scammer could run the con across the country if he can get himself added to enough yard sale groups on Facebook.
2) Of the 12 items, about 3 are pictures of real porcelain signs. This is done to make it seem as if the scammer is just a guy who happens to have a few signs in addition to some other random stuff for sale. The con stage is set very carefully to avoid raising suspicion.
3) The signs are priced at enticing price points but not too low. We already know that our con man does not want to arouse suspicion.
4) The scammer will only ship items, never meet up with you to make a sale.
5) The scammer will only accept payment processing type electronic payments such as CashApp. Once you make a purchase with an app like this, you're done. No recourse at all because it's a simple card transaction processing service and nothing more. This is why he will not use a service like PayPal, who will actually prosecute scam artists like this.
6) Once you negotiate your price, which he always says no to your first offer to add legitimacy to the con, the scammer tells you he will ship out the item the next morning. This is where he goes radio silent and you never hear from him again.

Now the scammer tries to get you for an amount of money that he knows you'll just go to your card issuing bank, make a claim, and get fully reimbursed. He also counts on the fact that you'll just want to move on and not be bothered with this whole embarrassing affair. After all, your bank made you whole so why waste anymore time on the scammer. This allows him to continue to execute this, "catch and release" scam framework against the next poor sucker who stumbles upon the con. From one bogus sign ad, he can hook dozens of victims netting him thousands of dollars.

I've attached two pictures from an actual scam that was going on in the Warrington, NJ Yardsale page. He also had two vertical Kendall tins and a vertical Goodrich Tires porcelain sign listed along with his other junk distraction items. The scammer is located reasonably close to that area, hiding out in Bethel, PA. In the attached example, he was asking a mere $400 for this Standard Oil Polarine sign. You can eventually steal it from him for $350 shipped.

The hobby is saturated with scam artists, fraudsters and con men now. It's truly unfortunate because it was once enjoyable to seek these items out. A friend and I exposed this fraudster today and thankfully Facebook took down the scam very quickly. But when one goes away 10 more surface.

Hopefully this post makes someone think twice before getting caught up in a catch and release con.

64716253_10102934726731167_7004905563138031616_n.jpg 62377491_10102934726446737_7875206382738210816_n.jpg
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 254
Likes: 2
J
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
J
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 254
Likes: 2
Thank you for posting this. Good info.

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
Petro Enthusiast
OP Online Content
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
Glad to help. This particular guy was the last straw for me. I've run into this scam with a lot more frequency recently and sooner or later I'm convinced that I will be reading about someone here who got caught up in the scheme. I have been sifting through the Internet looking to buy the Standard sign pictured. That's how I found the con man running this game.

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Really appreciate the heads up. I actually remember seeing that sign on Facebook.


Have gas all the time
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
Petro Enthusiast
OP Online Content
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 156
This con man is back up and running again. Here is the same Standard Oil sign scam live on Marketplace right now. He also has his other signs sitting in various Facebook marketplace groups just waiting for a victim to come along.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/516066172266607/

This guy and his family have an impressive criminal past too. Googling his name yields some fascinating reading material. Drug deals gone wrong, real estate scams, corruption in public office...

Last edited by TheHorse13; Mon Aug 12 2019 10:37 AM.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,565
Likes: 451
R
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
R
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,565
Likes: 451
Thanks for posting. I don't do facebook but will warn others, as that's just over the state line.


Looking for photos, etc from 60s era Shell-A-Rama gas station and Pal's Diner, Rt. 17 Mahwah, NJ
& US or state highway signs, shields, route markers

Moderated by  Oldgas, Ryan Underthun 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Click here for Petro Porcelain Sign auction listings *

Copyright © 2023 Primarily Petroliana Interactive, All Rights Reserved

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5