Transaction Safety Guide
Your safety is our priority. Follow these essential guidelines to protect yourself from scams and conduct secure transactions on Gunex.
Best Practice: Buy in Person with Cash
Face-to-face transactions with cash payment are the safest way to avoid fraud and ensure you're satisfied with your purchase.
Why Face-to-Face is Safer
- • Fraud Prevention: The RCMP has received many reports of people being defrauded when buying firearms online. Common scams involve fraudulent sellers who take e-transfers but never ship the item.
- • Quality Inspection: You can physically inspect the firearm's condition, bore, crown, action smoothness, and overall quality before agreeing to a price.
- • Immediate Resolution: Any issues can be addressed immediately rather than dealing with shipping problems or disputes later.
Safe Meeting Locations
While many firearms owners safely use their homes as meeting places, consider these alternatives if you prefer public locations:
- • Local shooting range parking lots
- • Gun store parking lots (with permission)
- • Police station designated safe exchange zones
- • Crown land or rural areas (use common sense)
Important: Choose Appropriate Locations
Avoid busy public places like mall parking lots where uninformed citizens might call police, creating unnecessary complications. Choose locations where firearms handling is appropriate and expected.
Verify the Seller First
- • Read the seller's profile information thoroughly
- • Check reviews from other Gunex members
- • Look at how long they've been a member
- • New users without reviews aren't necessarily untrustworthy, but require extra caution
Recommended: Cash on Delivery (C.O.D.)
For sellers without established reviews, use Canada Post's C.O.D. service. It costs only $7.25 extra but ensures the item is shipped before you pay.
Red Flags to Watch For
- • Firearms improperly classified (e.g., AR-15 listed as non-restricted)
- • No phone number or phone numbers with wrong area codes
- • Text-only numbers or numbers going to automated systems
- • Unusually low prices that seem too good to be true
- • Map location doesn't match claimed location
- • Images that appear stolen from other websites
- • Multiple identical ads in different provinces
Essential Verification Steps
1. Phone Verification
Refuse to deal with sellers who won't speak on the phone. Overseas scammers typically can't or won't take phone calls.
2. Video Verification
Ask for a live video call via Skype or FaceTime where they show the item. Alternatively, request a 5-10 second video showing the item with a piece of paper containing both your email addresses. Never accept photos with notes- scammers use Photoshop to fake these.
3. Google Reverse Image Search
Check if listing photos appear elsewhere online using Google's reverse image search feature.
Important: Don't Send Photos of Your License
Never send photos of your PAL or driver's license unless absolutely necessary and only to sellers with multiple 5-star reviews that you trust completely.
For Restricted Firearm Sales
Buyers only need to provide:
- • Name as it appears on the RPAL card
- • RPAL number
- • Expiry date
The seller gets a reference number from the CFP, and the CFP agent verifies your license during the call. Photos are unnecessary and increase identity theft risk.
For Non-Restricted Firearm Sales (2022 Rule Changes)
Sellers must obtain a reference number proving they verified the buyer's PAL is valid. The government accepts three methods:
1. In-Person Transaction (Recommended)
Buyer shows PAL card physically to seller - no photos needed.
2. Live Video Call (Good Alternative)
During a live video call, buyer shows PAL card to seller via camera - safer than sending photos.
3. Photo Documentation (Higher Risk)
Photo of PAL card - only use with trusted sellers with excellent reviews. Higher identity theft risk.
Help protect the Gunex community by reporting suspected scammers immediately. Your reports help us maintain a safe platform for all users.
How to Report
- • Use the "Report" button on suspicious listings or profiles
- • Email safety@gunex.ca with details
- • Use our contact form
Include This Information
- • Link to the suspicious listing or profile
- • Detailed description of why you suspect scam activity
- • Screenshots or copies of communications outside Gunex messaging
- • Any evidence that supports your suspicions
Providing evidence helps us verify reports and avoid blocking legitimate accounts unnecessarily. We investigate all reports thoroughly.
How the Scam Works
Scammers send fake cheques for more than the agreed price, claim it was a "mistake," and ask for the difference back. These counterfeit cheques are sophisticated and often fool bank tellers initially.
Two Common Methods
1. Mobile Deposit Scam (Most Common)
Scammer sends a photo of a fake cheque for mobile deposit.
2. Mailed Fake Cheque
Less common now, but scammers mail counterfeit cheques.
Warning Signs
- • Cheque amount exceeds agreed price
- • Buyer claims overpayment was a "mistake"
- • Request to "send back the difference"
- • Unusual payment method for firearms transactions
Protection Steps
- • Never accept cheque payments for amounts over the agreed price
- • Don't send items before payment fully clears (can take weeks)
- • Report suspicious payment attempts immediately
- • Stick to cash, certified cheques, or established e-transfer from verified buyers
Wanted ads attract scammers because they can contact you without posting listings that undergo our screening process. Extra vigilance is required.
Priority Safety Checks (In Order of Importance)
1. Verify They Have an Active Listing
- • Check if the seller has the same item posted on Gunex
- • If contacted through Gunex messaging, click their profile to view listings
- • If contacted by text/email, ask them to message you through Gunex instead
- • Cross-reference: message the actual listing owner to confirm identity
Recommendation: Remove Your Phone Number
Consider removing your phone number from wanted ads. This forces contact through Gunex messaging, revealing account status and review history.
2. Google Reverse Image Search
Almost all wanted ad scams use stolen images from the internet. Check any photos they send using Google's reverse image search.
3. Test Phone Numbers
If contacted by text, call the number. Scammers often use text-only apps that can't receive calls, or the call quality is poor because it's internet-based rather than a real phone.
4. Apply Standard Online Safety Tips
Check profile reviews, meet in person if local, request C.O.D. shipping, and ask for verification video as described in the online deals section above.
Critical Warning: Phishing Links
Scammers send fake e-transfer emails with malicious links that steal your banking credentials and email passwords. Even clicking the link without entering information can compromise your accounts.
How the Scam Works
- • Fake buyer sends email that looks like an e-transfer
- • Link takes you to fake banking website
- • Site captures your login credentials
- • Scammers gain access to your email and financial accounts
- • May happen even if you don't enter any information
Protection Strategies
Set Up Auto-Deposit
Enable auto-deposit with your bank so legitimate e-transfers go directly to your account without requiring clicks. This makes fake e-transfers obvious when they ask you to "accept" the transfer.
Verify Website Authenticity
If you click an e-transfer link and land on a login page that doesn't match your bank's normal website, stop immediately. Report the attempted scam to us with the username and email address involved.
Final Reminder: Protect Your PAL
Do NOT send photos of your PAL to anyone. Only provide the information on the PAL and let the other person call the CFP to verify legitimacy. This protects you from identity theft and illegal use of your credentials.
Immediate Safety Concerns
Contact local law enforcement (911) immediately for threats, illegal activity, or immediate danger situations.
Platform Safety Issues
Email safety@gunex.ca or use our contact form for scam reports, suspicious users, or safety questions.
Remember: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts and prioritize your safety over any deal.