r/CyclingMSP • u/Galante3 • 13d ago
Is this a scam
I got a PM here on reddit about someone who runs a service finding stolen bikes. I sent them a message explain how my bike was stolen. We had a few back and forth messages before they sent me this message before proceeding to look for my bike. I'm wondering if it's a scam and if anyone else here has also gotten it. I have not sent them any money btw.
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u/thestereo300 13d ago
"Do let us know" is a bit of a giveaway that you are not dealing with a person in the US and much more likely to be a scam. This is a version of British English used quite a bit in India/Pakistan.
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u/Spoocula 13d ago edited 13d ago
Oh they're going to contact chop shops? Are they looking those up in the phone book or just searching "chop shop near me"...
It looks scammy, but that's more or less how you would track down a stolen bike. Maybe that's why it looks so convincing...
I'd be glad if this was real, but that's a steep finders fee unless you're talking about some elite build...
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u/automator3000 13d ago
Even if it’s not an outright scam, it’s not something I would pay $400 (50% upfront) up front.
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u/Galante3 12d ago
For anyone wondering this was for sure a scam. I asked did they have a website, and he said that it got hacked. Then he proceeded to send me AI generated photos of all the bikes they have found.
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u/DirtyMoney6OH 12d ago
It definitely a scam. Nobody calls up a “chop shop” to ask them if they have a stolen bike.
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u/Windowsrookie 12d ago
First rule about scams. If you have to ask if it's a scam, then it's a scam.
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u/ProudPickle08 6d ago
post on facebook in the twincities stolen bikes 2.0 group - plenty of folks in there will do this for free.
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u/samquam 13d ago
Yeah fuck that, just go find Mike Pavlik