Beware: Unscrupulous potential buyers

I recently saw an ad from a "verified member" with a link to follow to become a "verified member". The link didn't work so I E-mailed AudiogoN but didn't get a reply.

Doesn't asking the buyer to use Paypal or perhaps a postal money order solve these problems for the seller? Or is it possible to still get burned with those methods?

Make sure you cash the MO somewhere other than your bank, although they can verify it. A MO can be cancelled once you send the buyer a tracking # as long as the buyer bought it with a credit card. Crooks will claim they don't have a paypal account, and won't send a MO. Use caution.

You can get burned with wire transfer, PayPal, personal check and MO. Money Order is the most risky of the lot.

Use a common sense, always try to get in contact with the seller via the phone - you will know within minutes if he is a real audiophile or a scammer.

You can't get burned on a MO if it has been cleared and you do not cash it where you keep your bank account. Do not ship or send the buyer the tracking # for a few days. I take money orders but warn the buyer not to make a habbit of using them. I let them know that if I don't ship the item, they are stuck. If they still want touse one then ok.