Don't get scammed!

Originally Posted by TailsWithScales

EXCELLENT post Polasian!

I would like to add a little red flag of my own.

A seller not willing or doesn't email CURRENT photos upon request and in a timely manner.

Have seen this a few times too. Just a thought.

Let me add to that:

Seller doesn't even have a picture in the ad, but will email it on request.

*I HATE that. Why? Because, some of us do not have time to research every picture, thus it becomes invaluable to have many eyes on the same picture, someone else may recognize the animal as not belonging to the person. I believe that if the seller can email individual potential customers a picture on request, it's even simpler to post the picture in the ad and save customers the trouble of having to contact you individually....end rant.

Originally Posted by deborahbroadus

Let me add to that:

Seller doesn't even have a picture in the ad, but will email it on request.

*I HATE that. Why? Because, some of us do not have time to research every picture, thus it becomes invaluable to have many eyes on the same picture, someone else may recognize the animal as not belonging to the person. I believe that if the seller can email individual potential customers a picture on request, it's even simpler to post the picture in the ad and save customers the trouble of having to contact you individually....end rant.

I love it Deb!!! I threw it up under "things to look out for but not necessarily red flags."

Some sellers might not want to plaster their pics all over the place for fear that they will be stolen and used for other things. I can see why some might not want to make it easier for said "pictures thieves" to get their hands on the merchandise. However, at the same time, if the seller doesn't post pics, then the thought that THEY might be the "picture thieves," does occasionally get planted.

Ultimately what will eliminate most (if not all) doubt, is the sellers willingness to be transparent. Not showing pics within an ad is just another hurdle for the buyer to go through. I just post pics in my ads and call it a day. I mean it doesn't matter what precautions one takes, if someone wants to steal your pic, they will find a way to do so.

Originally Posted by polasian

I love it Deb!!! I threw it up under "things to look out for but not necessarily red flags."

Some sellers might not want to plaster their pics all over the place for fear that they will be stolen and used for other things. I can see why some might not want to make it easier for said "pictures thieves" to get their hands on the merchandise. However, at the same time, if the seller doesn't post pics, then the thought that THEY might be the "picture thieves," does occasionally get planted.

Ultimately what will eliminate most (if not all) doubt, is the sellers willingness to be transparent. Not showing pics within an ad is just another hurdle for the buyer to go through. I just post pics in my ads and call it a day. I mean it doesn't matter what precautions one takes, if someone wants to steal your pic, they will find a way to do so.

To me, it would seem that emailing individual pictures would make picture thievery easier. Because in that case, they don't have to copy and possibly get a grainy picture from the website, they can get top grade pictures mailed to their very own e-mail box that possibly have never been posted anywhere before so will be harder to track down!

Originally Posted by deborahbroadus

To me, it would seem that emailing individual pictures would make picture thievery easier. Because in that case, they don't have to copy and possibly get a grainy picture from the website, they can get top grade pictures mailed to their very own e-mail box that possibly have never been posted anywhere before so will be harder to track down!

Good point!

Stealing a photo is easy regardless of whether it's posted on a site or emailed.

That's where the seller should use precaution and watermark their photos.

This is how my photos now look.



I do the name on the animal because if someone attempts to remove it it's going to really alter the animal's markings.



**Nile monitor NFS**

Originally Posted by polasian

Some sellers might not want to plaster their pics all over the place for fear that they will be stolen and used for other things.

Which is why on every photo I post I have my company logo.... and it is covering some part of the animal. Is it fool proof... nope... but it keeps my potential customers from having to spend their precious time to contact me for... "hey do you have a photo" type questions.

Originally Posted by chamgirl99471

I have a problem here... I don't have a digital camera so I have to take snapshots with a 35 mm and get the pictures developed at CVS and put on disk... I don't always know how they will come out so it's a win lose situation and when buyers may ask for "additional" pictures.. I myself may not always have them available!

I for one, as a potential customer, would be understanding if you were not able to provide additional pictures.

Originally Posted by polasian

- Refuses (when asked) to provide additional current pictures of the animals offered up for sale.

Again, Its just when someone flat out refuses to send more pictures when they have the means to do so. That's when I take a step back and ask myself "why not?" Just like with someone cant (or prefers not to) communicate via telephone...versus someone who completely cuts off that avenue of communication. So yea, I agree with you.

Originally Posted by Southern Wolf

Which is why on every photo I post I have my company logo.... and it is covering some part of the animal. Is it fool proof... nope... but it keeps my potential customers from having to spend their precious time to contact me for... "hey do you have a photo" type questions.

Yes, as Christine's photographs show, this is absolutely the best thing one can do to protect themselves, while at the same time making it easier for the potential buyers to make a decision. However, every person has different reasons for how they prefer to deal with a transaction...and no single reason above can (definitively) weed out a scammer. Some sellers would rather post their photos, others would rather be asked "hey do you have a photo?" That alone does not make one nor the other a scammer. I'm simply throwing out arguments from both sides of each potential concern. Having said that, yes, watermarks are my friend.

Nicholas, GREAT thread!!! I personally think it is much better to put up warnings like this (I am hoping it could become a sticky somewhere) rather than impose rules and regulations which mean well but strangle easy access for the good guys. The bad guys always seem to find an end run around the rules, but threads like this protect buyers in a way that can't be taken from them, by illustrating how a scam could go down, and making them think.

Great job, thank you

Thank you for that clarification.

I'd like to add something. If the seller has terms on their site, make sure you look over those and ask your questions before you send a dime. If they don't have some posted, ASK what they are! Be wary of sellers who try and change the terms on you! At a minimum, you should get a live arrival, healthy, properly sexed guarantee.

Originally Posted by polasian

Some RED FLAGS to look for in a classifieds ad;

- Refuses (when asked) to provide additional pictures of the animals offered up for sale.

Normals, Hets, Possible hets..... it will be a cold day in hell before I provide "additional" pictures of any of those, as someone just found out. And it caused me to lose a $2000 deal. I didnt care in the slightest.