Ded Driver said:
hippy hunter I have bought a couple of things thru Gumtree for a fair few $$, & I ask first if they will send me a copy of their drivers licence, allowing them to cover their address & expiry if they wish. you only really need a name & DL#. Its not a guarantee as they could use anyones, or a stolen one etc, but those that reply with it very rapidly are usually more genuine.
Not fail safe, but adds a bit of confidence.
DED
Yeah. Its still putting too much trust in some random person for my liking
A good scammer will be proffessional at lying and knowing what you want to hear.
Even if someone gives you their actual licence (minus address as you mentioned), it still doesnt stop them.from sending you a detector with a fault for example. And the cops arent going to help anyone get reimbursed for faulty goods. If it doesnt turn up period they might listen to you, but in that case a fake id has most likely been used.
When buying anything used electronics privately it is a huge gamble to buy without testing the equipment first.
Sending money to a stranger without the goods in your hand is an even larger gamble. And i think it applies more as time goes by becuase people are becoming less trustworthy and more desperate by the year..
OPPORTUNITY will do strange things to seemingly respectable and honest people.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush