TAF Gold Scam In Denver

I have a TAFG that I had listed on the Denver Craig's List. I was contacted via email by a individual calling themselves Phillip Gold.
He claimed to be interested in the game and wanted detailed pics. I sent him via Drop Box a group of pics and I did not hear from him again. This happened yesterday. I got an email from a colleague this morning saying that this " phillip gold " was trying to scam him into buying the game. The reason he knew it was a scam was he recognized the pictures as the same ones I sent him on Wednesday. The guy was claiming that it was his game. That was all that he said no other details. ( I am assuming that the scammer was trying to sell the game at a bargain price to get interest then taking the money and run) I have the guys email address if any of you want it PM me. So beware of anyone claiming to be a Phillip Gold or a TAFG in Denver for sale! I am sure this kind of thing is just going to become more common place in the future.

#2 6 years ago

DJT

Taxman

In Memoriam

11y 90,950 6,228 34 30

OP
Quoted from whthrs166:
I have a TAFG that I had listed on the Denver Craig's List. I was contacted via email by a individual calling themselves Phillip Gold.
He claimed to be interested in the game and wanted detailed pics. I sent him via Drop Box a group of pics and I did not hear from him again. This happened yesterday. I got an email from a colleague this morning saying that this " phillip gold " was trying to scam him into buying the game. The reason he knew it was a scam was he recognized the pictures as the same ones I sent him on Wednesday. The guy was claiming that it was his game. That was all that he said no other details. ( I am assuming that the scammer was trying to sell the game at a bargain price to get interest then taking the money and run) I have the guys email address if any of you want it PM me. So beware of anyone claiming to be a Phillip Gold or a TAFG in Denver for sale! I am sure this kind of thing is just going to become more common place in the future.

Someone should play along to get as much information as possible and then post the information. I doubt there is anyway to get the thief arrested since you might not even know where in the world they are.

#3 6 years ago

Blackjacker

Pinside member

Long Hill, NJ

12y 83,800 2,474

Could be legit - trying to short sell it. Sells it for your price + $500 before he buys it from you.

#4 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Yes possibly, It was my contact that told me he was running a scam so that's all I have to go on. I really just wanted let everyone know that this could be a scam.

#5 6 years ago

APL

apLundell

Inactive member

Lowell, MA

8y 20,900 51

Short selling pinball machines seems like a risky and aggravating way to make a buck.

Sounds much more likely it's a scam.

#6 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Yep and how did he get my colleague's email? Could he have acquired it through Drop Box?

#7 6 years ago

PEZ

pezpunk

iScored

Bristow, VA

11y 103K 7,008 4 20

Quoted from Blackjacker:
Could be legit - trying to short sell it. Sells it for your price + $500 before he buys it from you.

nah. he just wanted some pics that wouldn't show up in google reverse image search.

#8 6 years ago

DAD

Tyamry

Pinside+ Frequent

Kent, WA

10y 80,050 939 1

Nope, he is not legit. I put an ad on Mr. Pinball Classifieds. He contacted me with pictures from the internet. It's a total scam. He said he is in Idaho. I have a phone # and email address if anyone is interested!

#9 6 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Since it's obviously a scam, go ahead and post the contact info so others know to avoid communication from those numbers/addresses.

#10 6 years ago

MVP

Grizlyrig

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 111K 3,361 1

Too many scams!
-Mike

#11 6 years ago

DAD

Tyamry

Pinside+ Frequent

Kent, WA

10y 80,050 939 1

Here you go.

[email protected]
208-757-4618

#12 6 years ago

QUY

FatPanda

Pinside member

7y 141K 7,174 32

These guys need a nice steel toed boot in the balls.

#13 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Yes they do! that's him Mr. Phillip Gold. Man I knew when I saw his name it wasn't good!

#14 6 years ago

GPK

DeeGor

Pinside+ Frequent

Meridian, ID

11y 125K 1,495 19

That number is owned by https://go-text.me

It looks like a service that you can sign up for and get free throw away numbers for calls and text. Definitely looks like a scam.

#15 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Very Interesting! We got a fishy here!

#16 6 years ago

DJT

Taxman

In Memoriam

11y 90,950 6,228 34 30

Google that phone number. He's selling bikes also using other tailored gmail accounts - [email protected]

Looks like that number is one of many consecutive number with the same area code and exchange used for scamming.

Call the guys a few times to annoy him but that is the best you will do until he changes it to another. He's probably not even really in the United States.

#17 6 years ago

GPK

DeeGor

Pinside+ Frequent

Meridian, ID

11y 125K 1,495 19

FYI, http://freecarrierlookup.com is a great site to see if people are using legit numbers or hiding behind free phone number services.

#18 6 years ago

???

Vdrums

Pinside member

New York, NY

6y 36,400 481 1

For the future - would it be helpful it people watermark their images of machines for sale with their email? The kind of light and large watermark that can't be easily photoshoped out.

Also as far as the term short sale - is that the most descriptive term (since in real estate it implies selling for less than borrowed) Maybe pre-flip?

Sort of like the term ghosting can mean mean 2 different things - playfield or LED, which as a newbie I found confusing.

#19 6 years ago

KIM

Mr68

Pinside+ Frequent

Boulder, CO

12y 150K 8,645

Quoted from Vdrums:
For the future - would it be helpful it people watermark their images of machines for sale with their email? The kind of light and large watermark that can't be easily photoshoped out.

How? I just listed an expensive TOTAN in the Denver CL and would like to do this. I have very limited computer skills for this sort of thing.

#20 6 years ago

---

ForceFlow

https://www.google.com/search?q=watermark+images

Looks like there are a bunch of online services:

And you can can do them in batches in irfanview:

https://www.livefreedietravelling.com/tech-web/adding-watermarks-to-your-photos-using-infranview-awesome-free-program/

#21 6 years ago

JJK

hawkmoon

Pinside+ Addict

9y 84,650 3,114 13 8 1 1

Names can trick you as well!! For years I dealt with a canabis Dr,who's name was Dr.Turnupseed! And he actually was legit!!

#22 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

They can get around watermarks by just acting like an interested party and asking for high resolution pictures. This is what Gold did to me. I just asked for his email and sent them over to him.

#23 6 years ago

HWR

taz

Pinside member

12y 91,400 1,687 10 17

Pinball, autos, Idaho, scam.........hmm

#24 6 years ago

???

Vdrums

Pinside member

New York, NY

6y 36,400 481 1

When a scammer sends a potential mark pics with a watermark that isn't from the email address on the watermark, the buyer can always send an email to the address. If they get no response or a response saying it's not from them they wont buy. But most likely the scammer just may not use your pics.

#25 6 years ago

KEN

stpcore

Jersey Jack Pinball

12y 84,300 1,104

Quoted from hawkmoon:
Names can trick you as well!! For years I dealt with a canabis Dr,who's name was Dr.Turnupseed! And he actually was legit!!

Names can be misleading and sometimes raise unnecessary red flags.. My wife had a gynecologist named Dr Bush that I always thought was a little strange but was totally legit.

Better safe than sorry these days. I feel like I have to background check everyone.

#26 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

It really sucks that this is happening so often. Heck Im just going to fall back to the good old phone call and conversation before I send anything.

#27 6 years ago

KIM

Mr68

Pinside+ Frequent

Boulder, CO

12y 150K 8,645

Quoted from ForceFlow:
Looks like there are a bunch of online services:
https://www.google.com/search?q=watermark+images

WOW! Thank you!! I'm a hack with computers and I wheeled through that in no time! These are just some of my first attempts operating with the basics. Thank you again.

DSCN2831 (resized).JPG

DSCN2839 (resized).JPG

DSCN2867 (resized).JPG

DSCN2857 (resized).JPG

DSCN2841 (resized).JPG

#28 6 years ago

MVP

Grizlyrig

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 111K 3,361 1

I like that ^^^^^ Thanks to ForceFlow for the info. Mr68 I like how those pics came out. Simple and to the point.
-Mike

#29 6 years ago

KIM

Mr68

Pinside+ Frequent

Boulder, CO

12y 150K 8,645

Now I can do that home porn my drunk ex and I did.

#30 6 years ago

MVP

Grizlyrig

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 111K 3,361 1

Lol
-Mike

#31 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Looks Good Kim, I guess that where I will go with it also!

#32 6 years ago

PUF

Puffdanny

Pinside member

7y 101K 2,854 19

There's a new add in the market from a brand new user got an taf gold right now for 4k.maybe the same guy?

#33 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Ill take a look

#34 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Cant find any gold machine in the market
What number gold did you see ?

#35 6 years ago

---

ForceFlow

OP
Quoted from whthrs166:
Cant find any gold machine in the market
What number gold did you see ?

It was removed. Obvious scammer.

#36 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Hmmm be nice to know which #

#37 6 years ago

---

ForceFlow

OP
Quoted from whthrs166:
Hmmm be nice to know which #

There were photos of a regular TAF, not a TAFG.

#38 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

Ok another scammer great....

#39 6 years ago

ODB

Gryszzz

Pinside+ Frequent

Indianapolis, IN

10y 120K 13,254 9

Kim are those your pictures? I can't tell.

#40 6 years ago

ODB

Gryszzz

Pinside+ Frequent

Indianapolis, IN

10y 120K 13,254 9

PRANK CALLER PRANK CALLER
*hangs up*

#41 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member

The word on street is that he has now changed his name to Jennifer.

5 months later

#42 6 years ago

KAM

kvan99

Pinside member

12y 97,050 6,029 10

I just received a message on fb about my want ad for a TWD topper, the profile looked fishy, only 2 pics, he misspelled Gulf of Mexico as his place of work..etc. I messaged him and he told me to contact Philipgoldpin.gmail.com Lol. What a jackass.

#43 6 years ago

SDS

whthrs166

Pinside member