The easiest way on here would be to have members write down their username and the date on a piece of paper and throw it on the playfield, and take pictures.

A good idea indeed. Somehow reminds me of the 419 eater scambaiting website Trophy room!

http://www.419eater.com/html/trophy_room.htm

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On the other hand, who wants to lose out on a machine because the owner has other takers and doesn't want to be bothered with opening the game and putting produce on the playfield?

There are a million ways to tell a for sale ad is a scam that won't offend and annoy actual sellers, this seems rather elaborate.

A decent photoshopper can fake this. I know of one member here who almost got fooled by one of those images a few months ago.

I don't have any broccoli. A scammer could claim the same.

And again, a decent photoshopper could put just about anything convincing enough on a game to fool most people who don't have an eye for fake images.

And also, if you make a seller try to jump through too many hoops, they will get the impression that you're wasting his time and move on to other potential buyers.

There isn't any one specific catch-all technique that will work every time. Scammers are smart and are always upping their game.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/how-to-not-get-ripped-off-in-pinball-vids-guide/

I've never owned a piece of broccoli

You are missing out!!

I picked up a LE (NIB) new in basket.

Today's paper on glass works for me. Literally. How I bought my JP.
Mmm broccoli.

Your idea might work if you are the only one interested in it. If a seller receives calls from two potential buys say, and one asks for pics of broccoli under the glass, which one do you think the seller will sell to?

Seller might also think, well if I’m going to do all this extra nonsense then I’m not going to go as low on price as I would have before (remember that an honest seller knows he’s honest all the while). Point is that every extra thing you ask of sellers becomes part of the negotiation - really nothing is free.

Fwiw, I don't jump through hoops to sell a machine and if asked for some crazy broccoli pic I will laugh and say goodbye. I don't have time for that stuff. That's just ridiculous.
-Mike

I have always had better luck with the Albert R. Brocolli method personally...

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You're making it easier for scammers if you refuse all requests to prove you really have the machine you're selling.

It's also a red flag if you ask a seller to jump through hoops and they jump time after time. The 419eater folks have hilarious examples.

I think a short video is harder to fake than a photo.

Agree with requesting a video or quick FaceTime video call, that is simple enough and what I usually request and offer.

Or you could um like go check it out in person...

FWIW no method is fool proof. I have a nice personalized pic of a LOTR LE where I paid a deposit and the seller evaporated. I was willing to risk that small deposit amount and it was a risk that did not pay off.

That particular seller ended up doing jail time for pulling scams like that.