Beware Wanted Scammers on Forum

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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
As banks seem to favour closing branches, I think you will see a lot more of this, and more ways to move your money around, let's just hope the electric stays on.
We could write on a piece of paper “I promise to pay the bearer, the amount of the sum of one pound” and start a whole new system based on trust and respect….oh, hang on.:D

Apart from local bartering (wood, eggs, produce, grass cutting) and a pound coin for a shopping trolley I haven’t used cash for ages, not since Covid started. In the event the electric and internet fails, my dentist won’t know much about my teeth, the doctor will have to start over, but on the plus side my bank won’t know about my overdraft and the taxman won’t be able to hound me.

I’m pretty sure the Inland Revenue don‘t know what they’re on about even with computers. Apparently my last tax accounts are ‘outstanding’. I don’t even remember sending them, but they obviously liked them a lot. :)

Nite all, watch your backs, thieving is nothing new.
 

ScottE

Nomad
Mar 22, 2017
498
357
Norfolk
Be a shame to see bcuk classifieds turn into a clunky eBay just because one or two oddities like the modern world and big companies.
Not sure I want to feel part of a modern world when I’m in the woods carving an implement...nor indeed adding to a big companies’ wallet when I may want to trade a spoon :rolleyes:

Will it still be bushcraft in the future or what some big company is telling us is bushcraft? Is there anyone specialising in virtual fire making courses yet?
 
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Scottieoutdoors

Settler
Oct 22, 2020
852
608
Devon
Like I said before, I'm guessing this is simply buyer and seller beware..

We're all (age wise at least) adults... Not that I have much to try and sell, but I'd be less inclined to sell to someone who was brand new on here, or to buy from someone new...
I've seen a lot of people recently asking for a PM because they aren't at the post count, they have no PFP, idk, just all sorts of hit and run types of vibes (even if it's sign up to legitimately buy or sell something then vanish)... I quite like reading for sale posts when someone said "I used to own this before I sold it to XYZ"... Does sort of make this feel like a smaller 'family'.

Just gotta be careful I suppose, especially you folks selling some seriously pricey stuff!
 
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gra_farmer

Full Member
Mar 29, 2016
1,800
1,019
Kent
Will it still be bushcraft in the future or what some big company is telling us is bushcraft? Is there anyone specialising in virtual fire making courses yet?
I thought it would be fun to look around your last statement 'virtual fire making courses' and it exists https://earthworkprograms.com/2020/11/get-your-free-online-survival-course-now-happy-holidays/

feb0823ba011101690caf02f11cf3423.jpg
 

Scottieoutdoors

Settler
Oct 22, 2020
852
608
Devon
You know that somebody somewhere has held up there marshmallows up to the TV screen or there phone screen to cook them too :)
Yeh it doesn't work, I was very disappointed...

I also had to set up a fan in the living room and open a window, I figured the smoke wouldn't dissipate like it does outdoors...
 
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Fadcode

Full Member
Feb 13, 2016
2,857
894
Cornwall
You know that somebody somewhere has held up there marshmallows up to the TV screen or there phone screen to cook them too :)
yeh I've done it, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have time to spare. ended up eating them raw, very moorish they are, had to hide the bag of them in the end.
i still go fishing on the TV though, never caught anything, but I never catch anything anyhow.
 

demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,691
710
-------------
will it still be bushcraft in the future or what some big company is telling us is bushcraft? Is there anyone specialising in virtual fire making courses yet?
You can do online manual handling courses to get on building sites.
Which seems a bit odd to me.
 
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Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
From a Mod's point of view, may I add this ?

Buying or selling with a total newbie, regardless of how good a deal they are offering, is something I would really think hard about. I genuinely believe that there are more sound folks out there than chancers, but still things can and do, go badly.

We now routinely 'approve' all newbie's first few posts. This week alone I have banned at least a dozen at that first stage, and the other Mods have been busy too.
That's the reality of what we're actually doing when we make a judgement call, when we check if they are on spam lists, and are concerned that they're not genuine.
But, we're anything but infallible, and even the old spydie senses don't always ring the bell of, "Why does this look dodgy?", and sometimes folks who are on the make get through.

Recently Chris in particular has noticed a repeat spammer trying to join the forum.....they used to join up with multiple ID's and leave most unused like sleepers to pop up or do a multi multi thread blanket spam posting, but that's not working for them since we just check all posts from such 'newbies'. Maybe this fellow hasn't got the message. He's certainly been persistent. Leon and I once spent hours removing one fellow who was determined to sell American football jerseys on the forum. His isp home thing led to Papua New Guinea, heaven knows why he had over a hundred user ID's on a UK bushcraft forum, trying to sell these jerseys :dunno:
The other Mods have similar experiences rooting through and clearing out swards of such spammers.
Sometimes nowt so queer as folks, but at least he was relatively benign.
Others really, really want to take your money or possessions for their greedy selves and are happy to lie very convincingly to obtain them.

We need the membership to use that little ! beside Report at the bottom of posts, to give us a heads up if they see that something is amiss. To let Admin or Mods know if there is a problem we ought to look at.
The forum clearly says that it bears no responsibility if a deal goes wrong, that the onus is on buyer and seller, even though Tony makes every effort to provide information for police, etc., if things go that far.
The help and information you provide is appreciated. It often helps fill in the wider picture, and it gives us a timely heads up that there's something we need to deal with.

Give it a good think before you buy or sell, and I hope all your dealings are good ones :)

M
 

Woody girl

Full Member
Mar 31, 2018
4,520
3,460
65
Exmoor
As banks seem to favour closing branches, I think you will see a lot more of this, and more ways to move your money around, let's just hope the electric stays on.
You can pay cheques in at most post offices. All you need is a paying in envelope from your bank, so if you can get to a post office to post the item , it shouldn't be a problem. My nearest bank is a 40 mile round trip. I don't do any form of electronic banking and at least if I send a cheque I have their name and address so I know exactly where to find them. It's not difficult to check that it is a genuine address with a genuine occupier. You can also find their landline phone number too if they have one.
To me, that gives me much more info to work on if anything goes pear shaped. They know I can find them!!!!
If they are not genuine, they won't want anything to do with it.
If someone genuinely doesn't want cheques, I don't buy=lost sale for vendor./ not getting scammed for me.
But then I don't trust the push for online everything. Being a luddite can be frustrating, but also its safer.
 
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lostplanet

Full Member
Aug 18, 2005
2,124
243
53
Kent
There's a couple of forums iv'e used in the past which implement some pretty strict selling rules. watchuseek being one of them.

I think "unfortunately" we have to assume that every sale is a scam until proven not by forum evidence.

Definitely buyer beware. if you are an honest seller and an honest buyer there shouldn't be any problem? not every transaction is smooth and perfect, that's only to be expected.

Maybe some form of karma or feedback for members by previous sales buyers, then a judgement can be made whether to buy or not.

Would it be too much work to make every new forum member pay/buy to join?

Maybe a minimal one off cost of £2.50? which doesn't expire? I think the BCUK forum has such a massive amount of free information its fair to ask for a small charge. Every member is keen to help so well worth it on my opinion. Maybe this would deter the scammers/spammers signing up if they have to make a payment to post.

I like the Members Classifieds being subscription and am very happy with the cost.
 
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Scottieoutdoors

Settler
Oct 22, 2020
852
608
Devon
There's a couple of forums iv'e used in the past which implement some pretty strict selling rules. watchuseek being one of them.

I think "unfortunately" we have to assume that every sale is a scam until proven not by forum evidence.

Definitely buyer beware. if you are an honest seller and an honest buyer there shouldn't be any problem? not every transaction is smooth and perfect, that's only to be expected.

Maybe some form of karma or feedback for members by previous sales buyers, then a judgement can be made whether to buy or not.

Would it be too much work to make every new forum member pay/buy to join?

Maybe a minimal one off cost of £2.50? which doesn't expire? I think the BCUK forum has such a massive amount of free information its fair to ask for a small charge. Every member is keen to help so well worth it on my opinion. Maybe this would deter the scammers/spammers signing up if they have to make a payment to post.

I like the Members Classifieds being subscription and am very happy with the cost.
Only just realised the classifieds is subscription... Explains that "you have insufficient privileges" tag at the bottom..
 

lostplanet

Full Member
Aug 18, 2005
2,124
243
53
Kent
Also maybe restrict direct or private messaging until full member?

£15 a year for Full membership, bargain.
 

hughtrimble

Full Member
Jan 23, 2012
458
78
UK/France
Also maybe restrict direct or private messaging until full member?

£15 a year for Full membership, bargain.

Personally, I think the forum owners do a great job with this already without needing to limit private messaging - there's already the Full Members forum, which means sellers can advertise only to those who pay a subscription, albeit therefore with a smaller pool of potential buyers. Those selling can then choose to advertise in the general section, accessible to people who aren't full members, if they're willing to take possibly slightly more risk.

It's a great combination in my opinion. Better than shutting sales down only to Full Members, as the sellers can choose who to sell to rather than having it decided for them.
 

Scottieoutdoors

Settler
Oct 22, 2020
852
608
Devon
In the future I'm hoping to have a little more expendable income than I do right now (said everyone ever....).
I think some of the wealth of the forum is on account of it being free for the most part. I think if it became more restrictive for non paying members, I might have avoided the forum when I first came along... Admittedly the forum would have been (on average) more knowledgeable without my presence, but I like to think that perhaps I've asked questions which others may have wanted answers too or allowed people to get enjoyment out of helping....

Obviously I'd like to pay back to the forum and pay back knowledge where I can to the various members and I'm sure most of us can squeeze £15per year, but considering I don't smoke, I rarely drink (regularly) it's kinda hard for me to extract cash from my current vices... Most of which seem to be "free" - outdoor enjoyment..
 

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