Scammer collecting real serials?

[jdogric12]

Hi gang. So I listed a few Ricks on craigslist for the first time. I immediately got an email asking for the serial number of my 2010 360/12 FG so he could verify with Rickenbacker that it's not a fake. I gave him year and week, but not the last three digits. I told him he could contact POTR(CC), TRP(MP), or Kenny Howes at RIC if he wanted a reference. Otherwise, he'd have to check out the guitar in person to see the full serial. He said without the full serial he would not be interested and passed on it.

Is this a scammer looking to collect real serials to put on fakers?

I will gladly share his email address via pm.

[cheyenne]

I suppose someone could lift a picture, and if he had your serial number, he could report it as stolen, and wind up with your guitar.?

Warped and twisted, but possible.

[cjj]

Yeah, seems kinda weird, but in reality, why would he need the exact serial number to scam someone? I mean, all he has to do is have some idea of how the serial numbers work and just make one up: "I've got a 2002 Rick, serial number 0234127."

Or, if wants a "real" serial number that will match the "model", etc. of a fake, he could just get it (and pictures) from the many publicly available sources such as several on-line retailers, ebay, and of course, our own register. Yeah, someone could double check those if buying it, but I'm guessing a lot of people who would be fooled by a fake wouldn't know where to look up serial numbers either.

And, since there are many places to get pictures and serial numbers for guitars, the mere fact that someone has those is unlikely to convince the authorities that it's really his and was stolen, especially if the real owner has any sort of documentation/history to show otherwise...

[gibsonlp]

Well, it's really easy to fake a serial, especially old ones... No need to ask anyone for his serial...

[jdogric12]

Ok, cool, thanks. I seem to remember an old thread about people protecting serials so they wouldn't end up on fakes.

I thought about it and realized since I already had the guitar registered with my insurance company, it couldn't hurt to provide it. But the inquirer was somewhat nasty about it. used all caps... here let me get the text, it's entertaining... bold is him, italics is me.



Serial number please? Also original case and papers? Do you have a bill of sale?

I think it's from week 9. I'm at work right now and can't remember it exactly. I bought it through a friend who had it on order from Music Zoo in NY. I don't have any receipt or anything. I already mailed in the warranty card so unfortunately that won't transfer to you. But I've had no problems with it at all. Would you like to check it out in person? Thanks, Jason

BEFORE I CHECK IT OUT I ALWAYS GET IT VERIFIED THAT IT IS AUTHENTIC.
No offense but there are a lot of fakes out there.

Ha ha, I understand. I'm a longtime member of RickResource Forum. I've been dealing in vintage Ricks for about 15 years and over that time probably owned about a hundred. This one is definitely the real deal, not a fake. It came straight from the authorized dealer Music Zoo. I just found an old email with it - it's 10-09xxx. When you see it in person you can see the "x" numbers and TRC are quite real. I won't the full serial out over email, for obvious reasons. Thanks for your interest! let me know if you would like to see it in person and purchase it. Thanks, Jason

Oh and feel free to ask Pick of the Ricks (Chris Clayton), The Rickenbacker Page (Mike Parks), or Kenny Howes at Rickenbacker about me for a reference. -Jason Mendelson aka J Dog

Nah I’ll pass. Without the complete serial number to verify with Rickenbacker, I am not interested at all.
Good luck.

Okay, whatever dude. Good luck collecting serial numbers.

NO DUDE I AM NOT COLLECTING SERIAL NUMBERS. YOU FIRST ARE USING GMAIL, THE WEAPON OF CHOICE FOR ALL SCAMMERS. YOU SECOND DON’T WANT TO GIVE OUT THE SERIAL NUMBE, WHICH IS A LEGIT REQUEST FROM ANYONE INTERESTED. THERE ARE CHINESE WEBSITES THAT HAVE EXACT REPLICAS OF WHAT YOU ARE SELLING.
I AM LOCAL, HAVE PLENTY OF CASH, OWN MANY RICKYS BUT JUST NOT YOURS.

Fair enough, I suppose it can't hurt since it's already registered. (sent actual number) I look forward to your response.



Nice guy, eh??? Nice capslock, anyway!

[electrofaro]

I always ask for the complete serial - I won't buy it otherwise. But I always ask for custom made images as well to have them confirm they do have the guitar!

I don't see why such a fuss is made over someone asking a serial, tbh.

[winston]

What are RICKYS?

[electrofaro]

What are RICKYS?

The latest trend in chewing gum!

[jdogric12]

It wasn't simply that he was asking for the serial, it's that I got the distinct impression he only wanted the serial number, and had no actual interest in buying the guitar. If he was concerned it was a fake, he could easily tell in person. Especially after I provided several references, including RIC. I think, at best, this is someone who knows "just enough to be dangerous."

[jingle_jangle]

The Chinese copies, are EXACT, don't forget.

Jeez, "RICKY"...

[wayang]

I haven't forced too many rules on myself in this lifetime, but here are two hard-and-fast ones: I don't work for bosses who yell, and I don't correspond with people who type in all caps...and that goes double if they're incapable of using punctuation.

An obnoxious jerk with PLENTY OF CASH??? Ooooh...my favorite kinda guy...

[jdogric12]

DANE I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT IS SO FUNNY

Serious question - Paul, are there really exact copies out there I am unaware of? Forgive my ignorance, I should know better from reading this forum so much!

[jakeox]

Serious question - Paul, are there really exact copies out there I am unaware of? Forgive my ignorance, I should know better from reading this forum so much!

If there was a company that could make perfect copies, would coming up with a legit-looking serial number be the one thing they'd mess up?

[winston]

Jason the Chinese guitar copies that I have seen are always distorted looking. For some reason they can't seem to get the body proportions right and they nearly always have a spaghetti tailpiece.......but then there's Tokai (the ones that used to be made in Japan) they are too close for comfort.

Basses?............ well they are close but certain details give them away as we all know.

[ajish4]

On the topic,

This is ONE thing that has given me pause about the R*****r.

How hard would it be for someone to CLAIM their guitar/bass stolen....oh, yeah....here is the serial #.

I guess I'm just getting paranoid in my old age.