Scammer Scum - Beware

[RealMuddyboots]

I remember someone posed here as Muddyboots, who is a great guy from LRH.

I am adding link to my introduction as "realmuddyboots" so some can see how freaking easy it is to pull wool over trusting eyes. In a nutshell, someone copied my avatar off LRH and then created an account here under my LRH ID of Muddyboots. Then proceeded to take a few of you down the road. @Big Fin helped me track the POS down which really wasn't all that difficult. These scammers know 99.9999999% of scammed people won't do a darn thing. I couldn't do anything since I personally had no financial loss.

You really need to understand forum ID's are NOT your personal property and can be used on other forums to present a background that appears to be solid which of course they just set the hook into you. I have found Muddyboots on quite a few forums, a couple are mine and many are not. Muddyboots seems to be popular in gardening forums which is kind of funny if you think about it.

If the seller will not talk to you, "there's your sign". If they text you they are deaf, text back I know "sign" and see what happens. Track their address on Google, if an empty lot, "there's your sign". If it's a pharmacy, "there's your sign".

There are a lot of ways to confirm who and where the person resides and if address name doesn't match, "there's your sign".

I used USPSMO, at least you have a little more post control including filing complaint with USPS Inspector General. I think most know trust your gut. Don't let desperation override your common sense.

Lastly, I never use electronic payment no matter how convenient, virtually no recourse especially with firearms. If seller won't take certified check or USPSMO, walk away. Or maybe run away.

File Internet Complaint On-Line

Home Page - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

www.ic3.gov

The Real Muddyboots

So I just want everyone to know my profile and ID was scammed off LRH and unfortunately some of you folks were taken in by this POS and I am very offended by their actions. I doubt if I have any recourse but wanted everyone to know on Hunttalk it was not me and in fact I am changing my profile...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[matthausarchery]

@Farmer20 is now gone.

If anyone gets scammed, please let us know. We pay $200 per month to be part of a database that notifies us of known scammers. We also report our scammers/spammers to that database.

If they use an email, IP address, or username that has been reported to the database as a scammer, their registration gets sent to a folder where I have to manually approve/reject their registration. I don't even look at their account. I just reject everyone of them.

Yet, these folks are wising up. They are changing their usernames, using VPNs, and setting up dummy email addresses. Yet, they almost always have some sort of pattern to how they choose their usernames and email addresses. The spammer software is now using AI to identify those who are likely scammers/spammers.

I reject anywhere from 3-10 of these, per day. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being on top of it! There are some really incredible people I have met through this forum.

 

[44hunter45]

80% of my work is cyber security. No, I will not consult with you for free. This PSA is all you get.

There are spammed userids (a real looking copy of a known userid) and there are hacked/cracked userids. It is hard for an individual to defend against spammed IDs. Although, having too much personal information in the open on your social media accounts makes it much easier for bad actors.

We can do a lot to prevent cracked IDs.

My most secure clients are financial enterprises whose names you see every day. They are subject to Federal PCI Security Compliance audits because they handle credit card information. These clients must require at least 90 day password changes, Long passwords or passphrases, complex characters, mixed case, and numerals. Also MFA (Two-Step Verification)

Randy has HT PW protocols set for all these. They are not set to mandatory. Randy has HT configured to accept the most secure passphrase you can imagine.

Passphrases are stronger than passwords. A passphrase is a sentence. This is much harder to crack. Even harder if you intentionally misspell or mix numerals and letters.

Complex Passphrase examples:

I shot a 30" mule D33r iN 2024!
250# of Dynamit3 wiTh a 10" fuse
1f dirt Were doLlar$

Use upper case letters and numerals randomly throughout your passphrase to avoid patterns.

I find even complex passphrases easier to remember.

You can protect yourself and all other HTers by choosing a complex passphrase and changing it regularly.

HT also supports MFA. This is getting a passcode to your phone or email which you have to copy back to HT to sign-in.
Yes - It is a PITA, but this and a complex passphrase is the highest level of security you can have for HT.

You change your password and MFA (Two-Step Verification) settings by clicking on your profile name in the upper right corner of the HT page, the selecting the "Passwords and Security" option on the pull-down menu.

Good Luck!

 

[44hunter45]

After you change your PW you should get an email like this. If you get this email and you have NOT changed your PW, report it to the admins immediately.

 

[Laelkhunter]

80% of my work is cyber security. No, I will not consult with you for free. This PSA is all you get.

There are spammed userids (a real looking copy of a known userid) and there are hacked/cracked userids. It is hard for an individual to defend against spammed IDs. Although, having too much personal information in the open on your social media accounts makes it much easier for bad actors.

We can do a lot to prevent cracked IDs.

My most secure clients are financial enterprises whose names you see every day. They are subject to Federal PCI Security Compliance audits because they handle credit card information. These clients must require at least 90 day password changes, Long passwords or passphrases, complex characters, mixed case, and numerals. Also MFA (Two-Step Verification)

Randy has HT PW protocols set for all these. They are not set to mandatory. Randy has HT configured to accept the most secure passphrase you can imagine.

Passphrases are stronger than passwords. A passphrase is a sentence. This is much harder to crack. Even harder if you intentionally misspell or mix numerals and letters.

Complex Passphrase examples:

I shot a 30" mule D33r iN 2024!
250# of Dynamit3 wiTh a 10" fuse
1f dirt Were doLlar$

Use upper case letters and numerals randomly throughout your passphrase to avoid patterns.

I find even complex passphrases easier to remember.

You can protect yourself and all other HTers by choosing a complex passphrase and changing it regularly.

HT also supports MFA. This is getting a passcode to your phone or email which you have to copy back to HT to sign-in.
Yes - It is a PITA, but this and a complex passphrase is the highest level of security you can have for HT.

You change your password and MFA (Two-Step Verification) settings by clicking on your profile name in the upper right corner of the HT page, the selecting the "Passwords and Security" option on the pull-down menu.

Good Luck!

Thanks for taking the time to post this information. It will certainly save some of us some headaches down the road.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

If you posted your phone number anywhere, scrub it if you can. Maybe too late but at least stop new dirtbags. Even your email address. Anything too personal can build another identity. JMO

 

[Dave N]

If you posted your phone number anywhere, scrub it if you can. Maybe too late but at least stop new dirtbags. Even your email address. Anything too personal can build another identity. JMO

I've gotten some Craigslist ad replies asking for a number to call me with. I always reply asking where they're from. 90% don't reply.

 

[Redmt]

If you posted your phone number anywhere, scrub it if you can. Maybe too late but at least stop new dirtbags. Even your email address. Anything too personal can build another identity

Luckily nobody wants to be me.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

I now sell at local swap meets, no muss or fuss. Too much drama trying to sell on forums.

 

[Redmt]

I now sell at local swap meets, no muss or fuss. Too much drama trying to sell on forums.

Isn't it kinda tough to sell firearms at swap meets?

 

[Bullshot]

Never had a problem buying/selling/or trading. Would love to believe its because I
am honest and smart but surely its no better than that I am honest and very lucky. I hate hearing stories of ripoff artists. Takes some nerve to steal from a HT memeber, considering we are all armed. LOL

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Isn't it kinda tough to sell firearms at swap meets?

Shoulda clarified. I stopped selling firearms on line nor at swap meets gun shows. Only accessories, gear etc.

 

[millerkiller77]

Fake address,

 

[TheJason]

I guess the one positive about the rampant recent douchiness is it helps one build out their ignore list.

 

[millerkiller77]

I guess the one positive about the rampant recent douchiness is it helps one build out their ignore list.

Peas in a pod, thanks

 

[Flatbrimmer]

I guess the one positive about the rampant recent douchiness is it helps one build out their ignore list.

You use that thing?

 

[TheJason]

You use that thing?

Yep