Pinside Scammer alert - user KEITHJOE [email protected]

So i got this PM from:

KEITHJOE
Keith Bent

Mate, ask Lavin in Rockford, I think he has the Star Wars available for sale. His email is [email protected]

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I send an inquiry email to his "friend" Lavin.

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Lavin sends me this email with pix of a DE Star Wars that FUN in Texas is selling or sold:

Dan - Thanks for writing. Sorry for late in response, I just get a chance to check my mail. Yes i have my Star Wars pinball machine for sale. The machine is in great condition overall. I have gone over this machine and it is in excellent working condition. No issues. The wiring inside is perfectly working. Reason for selling, Need to cover some bills..LOL. No broken plastics or ramps. Original manual is included. I'm in Illinois and asking a $1,575 shipped. Payment via Walmart. What's your complete shipping address so that i can calculate the shipping cost from my freight handler?

Thanks

Chris
2114 Douglas St
Rockford Illinois 61103

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#2 6 years ago

GEM

hocuslocus

Pinside+ Pro!

8y 81,800 1,797 13

yup those look like FUN pictures. how much do those usually go for 1575 shipped seems insanely cheap. Wal-Mart card alright!!

#3 6 years ago

PAC

PACMAN

Pinside member

Nowadays they go for $3-$5k and up.

Quoted from hocuslocus:
yup those look like FUN pictures. how much do those usually go for 1575 shipped seems insanely cheap. Wal-Mart card alright!!

#4 6 years ago

PAC

PACMAN

Pinside member

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

Payment via Walmart? Never heard of that, maybe meet in the parking lot with a bag of cash?

Scammers are getting lazy.

#5 6 years ago

RobertWinter

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 117K 2,302 2

And why would he need your shipping address to calculate shipping costs if it's $1,575 shipped?

#6 6 years ago

JLM

jlm33

Pinside member

Villejuif

11y 152K 5,892 7 169

Thanks for the information. KEITHJOE's account has been blocked.

#7 6 years ago

ABC

Crash

Pinside member

13y 141K 14,139

Walmart=Moneygram wire transfer. Many stores have them.

#8 6 years ago

BUZ

Buzz

Pinside+ Frequent

9y 106K 3,115

Wow! What a deal.

#9 6 years ago

DSS

Haymaker

Pinside member

Rockford, IL

9y 125K 6,550 15 16

I never heard of this guy and I live pretty much in rockford.

#10 6 years ago

???

3pinballs

Pinside member

Bloomfield Hills, MI

11y 56,050 1,355 23

I unfortunately did a Walmart card years ago for a Dale Earnhardt Pool table light for $135....you guessed it I lost. They way to do it is to send a postal money order and if they default it's a Federal Offense.

I hate people like this

#11 6 years ago

FUN

pinheadpierre

Pinside+ Frequent

10y 94,800 2,559 16 1

Read this if you have not already. As usual, Vid has thought it through in great detail.

#12 6 years ago

DOC

Dr_Smith

Pinside member

9y 47,650 132

I got the exact same message after posting a want ad for a WPT. (Same wording just replace SW with WPT.) I didn't even get past the first word before questioning the validity of the message. "Mate" isn't slang I usually hear from Osceola, IN. Since my ad said I was lookin' four local or well known/respected only for shipped, his vague message wasn't followed up on (didn't even say if his friend was in Rockford TX or Illinois).

#13 6 years ago

FOX

phillymadison

Pinside member

New York, NY

9y 59,150 1,235 11 9

I got the same message from pinsider Slingerjesse same email to email a Chris in Illinois. Reported it to the mods and he got blocked at least from that account.

#14 6 years ago

PAC

PACMAN

Pinside member

yeah that was a red flag, but I was hoping he moved here from Australia or the U.K.

Quoted from Dr_Smith:
I got the exact same message after posting a want ad for a WPT. (Same wording just replace SW with WPT.) I didn't even get past the first word before questioning the validity of the message. "Mate" isn't slang I usually hear from Osceola, IN. Since my ad said I was lookin' four local or well known/respected only for shipped, his vague message wasn't followed up on (didn't even say if his friend was in Rockford TX or Illinois).

#15 6 years ago

MMA

Spacemanratso09

Pinside member

Oakville, MO

6y 84,050 1,271 11 25

Total
Scam got the same message I am looking for a BSD

#16 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member

So
I am looking for an Embryon cabinet
I get a text from "John" informing me he knows someone with a minty Embryon cabinet in Seattle.
I email his contact and I get almost the EXACT same email as OP Pacman.
Bullshit detector goes off because who the fuck is gonna ship a wide body cabinet in perfect shape for 110 total?

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#17 6 years ago

ABC

Crash

Pinside member

13y 141K 14,139

NEVER wire transfer money to anyone. The transaction offers no recourse and that's why scammers will accept nothing more.

#18 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member

Word

#19 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member

So what I have learned here: no reason to put your phone number on a pinside ad.

#20 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member

The good news is this cabinet comes with the elusive 6 inch Johnson Rod.

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#21 6 years ago

PAC

PACMAN

Pinside member

Quoted from Brich:
The good news is this cabinet comes with the elusive 6 inch Johnson Rod.

#22 6 years ago

XSV

xsvtoys

Pinside member

8y 103K 4,260

Good one! Reminds me of one of my favorite websites 419eater. Maybe they need a pinball section.

#23 6 years ago

ABC

Crash

Pinside member

13y 141K 14,139

Lol, as if they actually bothered to do any research on your question. Good way to sniff out frauds.

#24 6 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

9y 238K 31,369 268 14

Comedy gold

#25 6 years ago

AXE

YeOldPinPlayer

Inactive member

Unknown

8y 111K 6,454 4 12

Quoted from Brich:
So what I have learned here: no reason to put your phone number on a pinside ad.

I recommend using a Google Voice number to weed out scammers. After you're sure they are legit then use your real contact info.
https://www.google.com/voice

#26 6 years ago

___

brainmegaphone

Pinside member

9y 73,550 1,337

I like how he didn't try and claim the more rare uncut rod... that would have made the deal too good to be true!

#27 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member

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#28 6 years ago

BHR

Brich

Pinside member