My friend Steve, N4LQ posted a want ad on QTH for a Phasemaster transmitter.  He has received many replies, every one was an AI generated reply that came back, not via the QTH website address, but by AI using his email and sending directly to him.  Every one that sent him an email said they only accepted PayPal Friends and Family or other non refundable payment methods.  These emails contained the callsigns of the responder, the call signs were legit, but he noted that if you looked them up on QRZ, most would have only a double digit lookup count.  The callsigns are being used and the licensee apparently does not know it.   He has had fun answering them back and asking specific questions, even telling one he had a friend nearby that would come over and pay cash and pick up the radio, where the answer came back that said OK but he still had to use PayPal F&F to pay.  Do you need a bigger red flag than that?  He asked one person who said he had a Phasemaster to send him a picture of it, and I have included it in this email.  Look at it closely, at the silk screening, and the headphone jack, this is a total AI created image.  So, if you post an ad for a specific unique piece of gear, be careful about the responders,  or maybe have some fun with them like Steve did.

Charlie, W4MEC in NC