Scam Artist Alert

[WaveWhacker]

Ever since I signed up for the greatlakesfisherman.com forum I get occasional emails showing a list of Hot Topics and New Topics.  At the top of the list of Hot Topics is a listing for a Raymarine Auto Pilot. It’s been in this position for well over a year so I posted a note on August 19, 2024 inquiring if the autopilot was still available.

Not long after that, I got a private message from a member with the handle, “reelscroft” who said he had one just like it for sale. He sent some photos, it wasn’t the one I wanted so I sent him a “no thanks” note and told him I was looking for a newer model – the Raymarine SmartPilot X-5 Sport. 

He responded he had one of these for sale, as well. He sent photos of it, still in the box and it was the one I wanted. We negotiated a price and he said he would like to be paid through PayPal – friends and family. I paid him. There was another string of messages getting his PayPal email, my shipping info, etc. This was on August 22. He said he’d send me the tracking info as soon as he got it shipped but it wouldn’t be immediately since he was off to the doctor. 

Several days later, I checked my PayPal account and he did get the money. On August 29, I inquired about the tracking and he only said it was shipped, no tracking info. 

Since then, I sent more messages. No responses about tracking info, I’ve not gotten the package. He’s no longer responding to messages, even one that only requested a refund of my payment.

It’s a scam, so watch out for this guy.  Again, his forum handle is Reelscroft, he signed one of the messages, Ivan Croxell and his PayPal account is connected to an gmail email account that uses that name with in the address. 

BEWARE