Danville, CA
I ask Instagram to shut down instagram.com/Pinball_machines44
It appears they did nothing. I even provided screen shots of how they were trying to scam me. I played along to to gather evidence.
(Topic ID: 295415)
Quoted from Rscontrino:I ask Instagram to shut down instagram.com/Pinball_machines44
It appears they did nothing. I even provided screen shots of how they were trying to scam me. I played along to to gather evidence.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like social media companies are inclined to do much. All we can do is try to keep track of these profiles, and continue reporting them.
Pinball_12 on Instagram is mass following people with pin related content. Over 2,300 followers. I interacted a bit with them since they claim to have a shop in Michigan. Was obvious that it’s a scam. No physical location, no website. Eager to take payment. Hilarity ensued. Apparently they had both the games I was looking for: “ I’m really looking for a JJP (Junior Jersey Princess) Pilots of the California. Do you have?” and “Medieval Madness 2, Medieval Boogaloo”
If you’re wondering, JJP Pilots was $4k but MM2, EB was $14k.
Pics of conversation for a laugh
D748B1F2-6283-4838-9FEA-25B7C7BAEBA6 (resized).pngAB9596D5-B943-4019-B3AE-F45F280F659F (resized).png
two more instagram accounts. arcade_sales, Pinball_gamesales
The guy was trying to sell me a Monster bash Royal edition for $7500 =)
Quoted from Rscontrino:two more instagram accounts. arcade_sales, Pinball_gamesales
The guy was trying to sell me a Monster bash Royal edition for $7500 =)
Added, thanks.
It's interesting that the latter account posted a pinball meme in their feed. I think that's the first time I've seen them attempt that.
1 week later
Mississauga, ON
Here's another one, pinballmachinesandparts.com
I'll add these data points hopefully they come up in a google search.
Any site using the email Companysites1[at]gmail.com is a scam.
Any site using this testimonial appears to be a scam too
"Very Happy Corvette Owner!! I was extremely please with the prompt delivery of my Corvette Pinball machine. The packaging for shipment was perfect to keep from damaging the machine as it went down two sets of stairs. The Pinball Machine looked just like new and worked perfectly! the follow up support by Brooke was great. Thank you from another satisfied customer!!"
Quoted from Anony:Here's another one, pinballmachinesandparts.com
Thanks, already in the list
Quoted from Anony:Any site using the email Companysites1[at]gmail.com is a scam.
They've used quite a list of various email addresses. They basically treat them as throwaway accounts.
Quoted from ForceFlow:Thanks, already in the list
They've used quite a list of various email addresses. They basically treat them as throwaway accounts.
Sorry didn't notice. Consider that +1 for the SEO, hopefully more odds someone sees this post if they search for that company.
Quoted from The_Pump_House:facebook.com/Pinball-Entertainment-100211611938360
Thanks, added.
Quoted from Rscontrino:two more instagram accounts. arcade_sales, Pinball_gamesales
The guy was trying to sell me a Monster bash Royal edition for $7500 =)
There are so damn many scammers on IG its unfortunately impossible to list them all.. :/
Beware of Christmas scammers, I ordered a bunch of expensive jewelry for my wife, and they sent me a pinball machine!!
Quoted from Litedpinballmods:Beware of Christmas scammers, I ordered a bunch of expensive jewelry for my wife, and they sent me a pinball machine!!
Classic 
It's disgusting to see that the #1 return on godzilla pinball on Google is from a scam website (pinballmachinesandparts)
Hurry, their 70% off all pinball machines sale ends soon!
Quoted from The_Pump_House:3d-pinball.com
facebook.com/Chardliebrown/
Stolen images, accepts only bank transfers and bitcoin
Added, thanks
pinballdirect.us seems fishy. Couldn't find their physical address on google maps, website is 38 days old, phone number has California area code even though they are supposedly in North Carolina. sale prices are too good. What do you think?
Quoted from davidsprague:pinballdirect.us seems fishy. Couldn't find their physical address on google maps, website is 38 days old, phone number has California area code even though they are supposedly in North Carolina. sale prices are too good. What do you think?
Scam, like the other sites. I added to the list. Thanks for sharing it.
Χαλκίδα
Hello guys,
Any one in Europe, Netherlands, know those guys?
sportyartsbv.com
I am thinking to buy a pin from them, but there some things that concerns me.
Their address shows a Stadium in Amsterdam, and I cannot locate them by street view. Also, their fb page got only 9 followers.
Since I live in Greece it’s very hard to visit them so whatever purchase I will make it will be dome online.
Any idea, anyone?
Quoted from Axaios:Hello guys,
Any one in Europe, Netherlands, know those guys?
sportyartsbv.com
I am thinking to buy a pin from them, but there some things that concerns me.
Their address shows a Stadium in Amsterdam, and I cannot locate them by street view. Also, their fb page got only 9 followers.
Since I live in Greece it’s very hard to visit them so whatever purchase I will make it will be dome online.
Any idea, anyone?
Don't buy from them. It's yet another one of those scam sites.
Quoted from ForceFlow:Don't buy from them. It's yet another one of those scam sites.
Yes, I have also confirmed it with two people from Netherlands.
Here is their fb page, If you you are also going to added to the list.
facebook.com/Sporty-Arts-BV-105730078527744
Quoted from Axaios:Here is their fb page, If you you are also going to added to the list.
facebook.com/Sporty-Arts-BV-105730078527744
Already done 
Another resource for reporting online shopping fraud vie Federal Trade Commission
https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
Every time I search for a new pinball title a new scammy looking site seems to be there. This place does not look honest:
pinballdirect.us/product/led-zeppelin-pro-pinball-machine-by-stern-for-sale/
Any point in adding to list?
Quoted from Kent_Diego:Every time I search for a new pinball title a new scammy looking site seems to be there. This place does not look honest:
pinballdirect.us/product/led-zeppelin-pro-pinball-machine-by-stern-for-sale/
Any point in adding to list?
It's already on the list.
For peeps looking for games, you can always check Stern or JJPs websites that list their official distributors. This is a great starting point.
But as stated above, if you are asking if it’s a scam, it probably is.
Quoted from Axaios:homeluxurygames.com
It was very obvious after a while ths is a fake site, so I came here to check the list.
Got saved once again thank to this thread.
If you're looking for a game distributor, be sure to check the pinball manufacturer websites, listed in the first post if this thread.
Quoted from ForceFlow:If you're looking for a game distributor, be sure to check the pinball manufacturer websites, listed in the first post if this thread.
What concerns me the most actually is the fact that if you type on Google ''lord of the rings pinball for sale'' which is what I did, then homeluxurygames.com is at the top of the list. Literally is the first result you will get.
Guess what the second result is. It's 47pins.com, another face site, and they are using the exact same pin in the pictures.
Then the fourth result is this site.
homeleisuredirect.com
On the sales add they have the exact same photo as the other two sites above. This wesite is not in the list here, so perhaps this is a fake too or, I dont know, perhaps this is the real original post.
Good morning everyone. My husband came across gameroom.no online this morning. They have had domain for a while, but website is new. Promoting Heighway parts and others. No contact information. Just curious if my gut might be right and this is a scam or if they are legitimate. Anyone heard of or dealt with them? Would be nice to have some spare parts.
Quoted from DawnP:Good morning everyone. My husband came across gameroom.no online this morning. They have had domain for a while, but website is new. Promoting Heighway parts and others. No contact information. Just curious if my gut might be right and this is a scam or if they are legitimate. Anyone heard of or dealt with them? Would be nice to have some spare parts.
It doesn't seem to fit the usual criteria for the scam sites that have been popping up. I'd suggest contacting pinballbrothers.com and see if they say this gameroom.no site is an official distributor or not.
Quoted from Axaios:What concerns me the most actually is the fact that if you type on Google ''lord of the rings pinball for sale'' which is what I did, then homeluxurygames.com is at the top of the list. Literally is the first result you will get.
Guess what the second result is. It's 47pins.com, another face site, and they are using the exact same pin in the pictures.
Unfortunately, most of us have zero control over what search engines decide to display.
Quoted from Axaios:homeleisuredirect.com
On the sales add they have the exact same photo as the other two sites above. This wesite is not in the list here, so perhaps this is a fake too or, I dont know, perhaps this is the real original post.
That does not appear to be a part of the chain of typical scam sites.
There is an active company LTD registration, which was filed in 2007. The domain was also registered in 2007.
They claim to be a Brunswick partner, but they don't appear to be listed on the Brunswick site as a dealer, so I'm not sure what that means.
Homeleasuredirect.com is real: https://goo.gl/maps/6PsoexEDqgjNrWRJ9
Yes, we can do something about what search engines decide to display, for Google for example visit:
https://www.google.com/search?q=lord+of+the+rings+pinball&sa=X&tbm=shop
At the bottom of the page you have the button "report violation", click, click scam, paste in the offending URL and submit.
By the way, more sites to add to the list of scam sites:
* casinomachinesforsale.com
* qualitypinballmachine.com
inthenewage.com if kind of fishy, the company exists (holistic healing) and seems to be able to drop-ship new pinballs but has 100's of fake 5 star reviews on many sites and some 1 stars from real customers.
Quoted from Bumper:By the way, more sites to add to the list of scam sites:
* casinomachinesforsale.com
* qualitypinballmachine.com
Thanks, added.
Quoted from Bumper:inthenewage.com if kind of fishy, the company exists (holistic healing) and seems to be able to drop-ship new pinballs but has 100's of fake 5 star reviews on many sites and some 1 stars from real customers.
Since it appears that it is/was a real place run by a real person and not part of the ring of anonymous scam sites, I'm not going to include it on the list.
Quoted from DawnP:Good morning everyone. My husband came across gameroom.no online this morning. They have had domain for a while, but website is new. Promoting Heighway parts and others. No contact information. Just curious if my gut might be right and this is a scam or if they are legitimate. Anyone heard of or dealt with them? Would be nice to have some spare parts.
Im pretty sure they are legit, its one of the (norwegian) guys behind Pinball Brothers running it. Looks very "idle" though, the page.
But also check out https://www.free-play.se for Heighway parts, they are 100% legit.
Quoted from Axaios:Hello,
Any idea about this page?
facebook.com/PinBall-Machinaries-105920815267247/
If you feel you have to ask, it's probably a scam.
That particular page appears to have several photos stolen from elsewhere.
1 week later
bonzerarcadeshop.com is associated with instagram.com/the_arcade_home their instagram account was also just renamed as pinn_homes
Quoted from Ajoelson579:bonzerarcadeshop.com is associated with instagram.com/the_arcade_home their instagram account was also just renamed as pinn_homes
Thanks--added to the list.
I suspect markwellpinballs.com is a scam... No matter what title you message them about, they have in stock ... and their only method of payment is Cashapp and Bitcoin.
Quoted from RetroGamerJP:I suspect markwellpinballs.com is a scam... No matter what title you message them about, they have in stock ... and their only method of payment is Cashapp and Bitcoin.
Yep, scam. Added it to the list--thanks
Quoted from davidsprague:pinballdirect.us seems fishy. Couldn't find their physical address on google maps, website is 38 days old, phone number has California area code even though they are supposedly in North Carolina. sale prices are too good. What do you think?
These guys were my #1 result when I looked Stern on a Google search. Man... that is scary stuff. I am sure they have scammed some people.
Quoted from NC_Pin:These guys were my #1 result when I looked Stern on a Google search.
Did you really just only put "Stern" into google search? Or did you added other words into that search?
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