GoWild Report: Beware Ammo Scammers
Editor’s Note: Today’s article comes to us courtesy of GoWild, an outdoor social-media platform. As “AmmoGeddon”–the nationwide shortage of ammunition that began with the COVID-19 pandemic–continues, many consumers’ desperation for ammo has caused them to be fooled by fake scammers. Here’s what you need to know.
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Scammers are aiming for your ammo purchases.
GoWild’s security team has flagged a record amount of firearms scammers focusing on gun accessories over the last few weeks, especially with ammunition. While GoWild deletes the scammers from its platform immediately upon identification, the company has also found scammers circulating through other social networks, and is therefore releasing tips to help shoppers identify the scammers.
“With gun sales at an all-time high and ammunition in short supply, scammers see a rich opportunity,” said firearms enthusiast and GoWild Cofounder, President, Zack Grimes. “Buying ammo online is safe if you’re working with a known reputable company—I do it all the time. But these scammers are taking advantage of millions of new gun owners and even some long-time firearms owners.”
About the Scammers
Most of the scammers are operating from outside of the United States. They are not only using fake business names, they’re creating fake logos, addresses and websites to pose as legitimate companies. The content posted usually appears to be stolen.
At first glance and especially to an untrained eye, it can be tough to tell if a company is legitimate. But GoWild’s tips below will help consumers better identify scammers.
Tips to Avoid Being Scammed
- If it’s too good of a deal, it is
Scammers often list prices for half MSRP. - Don’t take the convo to another platform
On social media platforms, scammers nearly always ask to speak via direct message or will often ask to use another chat app (WeChat, Hangouts, etc.). - Be leery of messaging app purchases with third party payments
Many scammers are selling via direct messaging through social media platforms, not real websites. They are asking for customers to use Venmo or Cash App to send payment. If the scammer has a website, credit card will sometimes not be an option. The only payment options are often Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, Venmo and even Bitcoin. GoWild does not recommend trusting sellers who direct messaged you and want to use third party payment apps. The company also recommends against trusting retailers who don’t accept credit cards. - Check for website security indicators
Real retailers will have an SSL certificate, which ensures a secure connection for transferring personal data. Tap the lock at the beginning of a web URL to see if your connection is secure. Please note GoWild has still identified scammers with SSL certificates for fake websites. - Look for confusing sentences or misspellings
Scammer communication will often be confusing and with poor grammar. Scammer websites are chock-full of typos and glaring mistakes. GoWild has found that many of the scammer websites are using copy and images from established businesses. One scam website listed its own fake name but forgot to change the original retailer’s name in the next paragraph. - Check the business address
It sounds simple but it’s one of the easiest ways to verify a real business. Business addresses for scammers are always fake. A simple check online will often lead you to find the website’s address listing is not even a real address. If you can’t find an address, be leary. - When in doubt, don’t buy
If you buy, the scammers are going to have not only your payment information, but your home address. Even with this firearm and ammo shortage, it’s not worth it. - Simply put: Buy from trusted sources. ______________________________________________________________________________
We here at Freedom’s Lodge (and our sister publications, Guns & Gadgets Daily, Popular Outdoorsman, Popular EDC, and Current Homesteading) pledge to continue keeping you up-to-date on the latest information you need to know to keep your guns running and your ammo closet full. Our team boasts a combined industry experience and insider know-how that spans decades and multiple platforms, and together with our industry partners, we insist on only the best in quality and customer service.
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Add RoyalAmmo website to the scammers list. It’s just like described here with the limited choices of payments, primers too good to be true and using a gmail account for “contact”.
I am pretty sure this is another scam site:
https://guardianarms.net/product-category/handgun-ammo/
Filled my cart and asked if ammo was in stock and they said yes.
Winchester Ammunition USA Forged 9MM 115 Grain FMJ 1000 Round Case
USD229.99
no credit card purchases
Ron
I would like to add firearmsonline. looking for primers, checked the address and it is a house for sale in KS
I had one hit me up on Instagram. He wanted me to use Zelle. Even their app site says “to people you trust.” So I passed.
Appreciate the info. How about an article on Ammo Scalpers? Because that’s a real problem as well. Whenever prices are two to three times MSRP, it’s no longer supply and demand, it’s sheer greed.
You got that right! I refuse to pay scalper prices and if everyone did that, the scalpers would eventually have to come down. Of course that cuts off my range time because I don’t want to use up my stock!
Thank you for the FYI it’s good to know someone has our 6. David Graves
Thanks for the info …
Outdoor limited sounds to good to be true also. Any info on this company?
I have purchased from them a couple weeks ago. The order went through fine and my ammo arrived in about 3 days. I have no complaints. I was surprised that they had what a wanted in stock, but they did and everything appears to be good.
I’ve purchased ammo from outdoorlimited.com in the past before the shortage/hoarding happened. But be aware of places asking for prepaid debit cards too. My wife has been looking for a shotgun and was almost fooled by one of those to good to be true websites. Luckily I caught it before she made an account to purchase.
I work beside one of their local ammo supplier. Minuteman ammo. Bought it, used it. Good guys, working hard to make enough to supply local needs. Locally produced in North Carolina!!!
We, my wife and I, have also bought from Outdoor Limited twice now. We have received our orders correctly and quickly with no problems. We will gladly use them again.
honorammo.com is another one to stay away from
Excellent article. I’ve been seeing this lately too. Here are a couple of examples: https://www.raniersec.com/ and https://rainsammoandgunshop.com/. These sites look great. They have a good story about themselves. But the only payment they take are Bitcoin, PayPal, Vemo… And they will ask you to pay in a manner that removes your ability to get the money back or dispute the transfer. With raniersec.com they have a nice picture of the gun shop. Unfortunately that pic is all wrong. For instance, they are saying they are in Anchorage Alaska but the pictures name is Ogden. And then you look at the cars out front — the blurred license plates aren’t Alaskan plates. And then zoom in on the door and you see they take credit cards. Really? You take credit cards in your store but not online!!!! Also, when you interact with them and they give you a PayPal account to send the money to that doesn’t look anything like the company. When you ask who that person is, they will say a sales person. They will insist they are legit. They may call you sir constantly. When you see the BBB A+ Accredited rating, do the lookup — you won’t find them (or at least not at their address). When you ask about why you can’t find them on BBB they will say something like “that shouldn’t concern you”. The easiest way I’ve found to stop a conversation with them is to ask what their company name is, insist that they send you an invoice via PayPal from an account tied to their company, show actual pictures of all the ammo in your order, assembled and ready to go, take pictures of their gun shop with GPS activated so you can verify their location. You will get a lot of deflection and insistence that they are legit. They are giving you nothing but lies. Think about how a real business interacts with you. Do they just message you? Would they be willing to have a conversation with you? Would they accept credit cards? Do they have an address that they will provide that you can verify on google maps and see their shop? Do they have a phone number that matches their location? When you call that number, does a real person answer or do you always get a google number that ends up in voicemail. Do they look to have an enormous inventory for such a small gun shop? But as the article states, if the deal is too good to be true on everything, it probably is.
Bah… if you have to ask them that many questions then you should already be avoiding them. Only two flags need to be seen:
1) they do not take credit cards and 2) their prices and stock availability are too good to be true.
Ak-47gunshop.com is definitely a scammer that is still up and scamming
Share and beware
And watch for ones that the writing looks like the rest. Found 4 or 5 websites that are the same people.
Stay away from gatewayammunition