BEWARE: Joe Guffey (joeguffey01@gmail.com) - Scammer
WantedAccessories
Oct 16, 2021, 08:35 PM | Replies: 16 | Views: 1627
-
Price
Any Price
- Location Oakland, CA, 94602, USA
- Condition Used
Description:
Beware of the forum member JG01, goes by the name Joe Guffey. He reached out to regarding a WTB post I'd made recently looking for a C63 catalytic converter. He stated he "had one in good condition". He sent me photos, and we agreed on a price + shipping. I transferred him money via Zelle to his "wife's" account, and a few days later he told me he'd not received anything (I suspect to see if he could get me to try sending more money?) I had done some brief searching on his name prior to this, and didn't see anything the seemed like a red flag. After he contacted me about not receiving funds I started searching some more, and came across another mbworld post from something stating that he'd contacted them regarding a part but using the photos of another members sale post. (https://mbworld.org/forums/market/788824) I then did a reverse image search on the exhaust photo he'd sent me and found it listed that same day on some nigerian website (https://jiji.ng/surulere/car-parts-a...R8.html)
I then sent Joe a response informing him of my findings and he acted confused. I told him to send me a photo of the exhaust with a piece of paper with "joeguffey01@gmail.com" written on it to prove it was in his possession. At this point he has ghosted me. I've since opened a claim with Bank of America, though I've more or less written that money off. I'm usually very good at sensing a scam, but nothing about this seemed off from his initial messages and didn't set off any flags for me.
I'm curious if this individual has reached out to any other forum members.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 36
Likes: 9
E550 coupe
People literally will do anything for a dollar....
Sorry to hear that this happened.
Future, make sure you send paypal only payments. Everytime someone says I only accept zelle or venmo I laugh and shop somewhere else.
paypal for goods and services and pay the fees on your end so your covered.
do not send money as gift
Sorry to hear that this happened.
Future, make sure you send paypal only payments. Everytime someone says I only accept zelle or venmo I laugh and shop somewhere else.
paypal for goods and services and pay the fees on your end so your covered.
do not send money as gift
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: BayArea, CA
2013 C63 AMG
People literally will do anything for a dollar....
Sorry to hear that this happened.
Future, make sure you send paypal only payments. Everytime someone says I only accept zelle or venmo I laugh and shop somewhere else.
paypal for goods and services and pay the fees on your end so your covered.
do not send money as gift
Sorry to hear that this happened.
Future, make sure you send paypal only payments. Everytime someone says I only accept zelle or venmo I laugh and shop somewhere else.
paypal for goods and services and pay the fees on your end so your covered.
do not send money as gift
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA
‘06 997S w/ Factory Aero. ‘17 Land Rover HSE - diesel (wife’s daily)
I’ve been contacted by this guy also, in regard to my WTB post. He emailed me several times about an e63 long roof he “had.” After I fired off replies regarding vehicle specs, he went oddly quiet. Playing off our emotions this cat does. I’m just north of you, up in Sac. I hope BofA comes through.
cheers,
JW
cheers,
JW
Newbie
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 9
Likes: 4
2005 SL65
He just contacted me after three months when I had been asking about some Recaro brackets and he wasn’t able to supply pics.
Suddenly he has pics three months later and when I ask him “what application are these for” because I had been seeking them for two different cars, he replies “Porche”. I’ve never enquired about Porsche brackets.
So I decided to Google his email and found this thread. Thanks for posting it.
Suddenly he has pics three months later and when I ask him “what application are these for” because I had been seeking them for two different cars, he replies “Porche”. I’ve never enquired about Porsche brackets.
So I decided to Google his email and found this thread. Thanks for posting it.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 259
1991 964 Turbo, 2002 Black E55, 2002 Black E55 " The Beast"- 2014 E63s
Why would one send funds via PP-friends or Venmo or similar third party carriers where the buyer has no option to contest? Paying few dollars in fees is much better than losing every thing. I always write the description of the item the funds are for on the pay pal document, just in case.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 259
1991 964 Turbo, 2002 Black E55, 2002 Black E55 " The Beast"- 2014 E63s
If it's legit, why won't they. I don't even ask them for the fees, I just go ahead and pay it for my protection. They protect themselves and why won't / shouldn't we? PP with fees or you can charge my card, period. However, If the price is under 100-200 and from my correspondence with hhim he sounds a reasonable guy and not pushy, I might send as friend but If I am paying the fees, why should he decline that?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 515
Likes: 243
S212/M5T/Z31/240Z/3rd gen Tacoma
I've noticed several consistent traits on all scammer emails. They always have a number after their name in email addresses and they always have fewer than 10 posts with recently created accounts.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 310
Likes: 36
From: Holt, FL
2004 Crossfire (w/M113K), 2008 Crossfire (w/M156), 2008 ML63, 2018 AMG GT
This is becoming a common tactic, and it is not specific to MBWorld. I have had this exact sort of thing happen on two other forums I belong to.
