Someone asked how scammers do it.  I have been scammed, lost a few bucks, not too bad but still hope the thieves OD on whatever drugs they bought with my money.  They took an ad I had placed on QTH where I was looking for a receiver, and answered back, complete with pictures of the receiver they had and an address, with a call sign.  I looked up the callsign, it was current  and it jibed with the address and even google earthed the house and road, all looked legit.  Thankfully I was only out a small deposit.  I did post the call sign used on the QTH scam site,  notified the USPS, and also emailed the local law about the operation.  I finally found a ham in the town that knew the call and that particular operator was a SK, but his data was still good online.  Apparently the non-ham son was living in his house and using his call.. 

Use Paypal as a commercial transaction format and that will secure you money back if you get taken. Don't use Venmo or similar or an EFT.  If you use a bank check or cashier's check, be prepared to wait one year before you may or may not get your money back.  Somefolks say using a USPS MO will bring the wrath of the US Govt. down on them but I don't believe that.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC