FTF firearms transaction

[91wm6]

I have a listing on craigslist for a high end full suspension mountain bike for sale.(I know I know but it's free and convenient) I got a reply from a guy in Austin offering a partial trade with cash. He offered a Glock 23 plus x dollars and I agreed to meet him later this week so he can see the bike. At the last minute he sent me a message saying the following. " I will need your drivers license number to run you through the system since I am selling you a gun. I'm a cop in Austin by the way , gotta cover my myself".
I replied and said" I can show you my DL and ccw when we meet and we can do a bill of sale... or we can meet at an FFL and let them do the transfer if you want to pay the transfer fee. Nothing personal but I'm not comfortable letting you "run my DL number" cop or not..He replied with "Well we will have to do ffl cuz they will run you then."

So here's the deal. The guy contacted me in early July offering to buy the bike for X dollars and he flaked at the last minute, so this is the second time he has contacted me regarding the craigslist ad. I have a good instinct for identifying scammers and I don't think he is. I am comfortable meeting strangers on FB, I conceal carry and I have fairly advanced self defense and can handle myself well tactically.All communications have been via text and honestly I thought this was a fairly young immature guy with rich parents. Here's my question. If this guy was really a cop wouldn't he know that as a ccw the FFL won't even run my info or do a 4473? I actually just have my Az cwp so they will run me but I didn't tell him this. I feel it is 1. An invasion of my privacy and 2. Abuse of LEO position to try and run my information for personal use( if he truly is Austin PD). So either he really is LEO and he is just ignorant and possibly abusing his LEO position for personal gain, or he's trying to scam me (doubtful). I really could use the money for bills and I could use the block or put it on gun broker.. How would you guys handle this transaction? (or would you decline) Do any of you LEO's feel this guy is inappropriate for trying to run my DL for a personal transaction? I know LEO's will sometimes use their resources to help friends etc, but I feel I offered a more than acceptable alternative to "cover his ass". Any input and advice will be appreciated.

[74novaman]

If a FTF deal makes you uncomfortable in any way, back out.

I normally only do deals with folks on this forum. I've done a few outside through other sources and they've always gone well...but if I ever had a flake that I didn't feel comfortable about....I wouldn't do the deal.

My .02

[snatchel]

I'm fairly certain that a police officer can't just "run your number," to satisfy his curiosity.

IMO, if he won't accept a cursory glance at your DL or CHL, I would do business elsewhere. I certainly would not give my DL# to anyone. Now, assuming that he meets you in a public place, on duty, and is in a patrol unit, and asks to run your DL then..... maybe. It's just too easy for someone to say "I'm an police officer," and show you some badge he bought online or found on the ground somewhere.

[AEA]

I would have nothing to do with Craigslist on anything. Particularly guns!

If you want a gun, sell the bike and go to a gun show or FFL Dealer. Or buy online from a reputable Dealer like Bud's or others.

[carlson1]

He can't legally run your DL or Criminal History for personal use.

If the FTF has a strange feeling DO NOT GO. Someone else will come along and buy it.

[kjolly]

Sounds fishy to me. Meet him in a very public location and bring someone for backup. but I'm just the paranoid type.

[E.Marquez]

I really don't know if it's Law, or department policy.. but I do know two local LEO's Im very good friends with in two different departments have said they can not run a VIN, plate or DL number for me as it's not allowed for personal use..and would get them in trouble. (makes it sound like department policy to protect privet info or abuse of the database for personal use?)


In any case, FTF in Texas requires no such thing (as im sure you know) Presentation of proof your a legal resident AT THE FTF meeting is one thing as well as a bill of sale.

But I for one would not entertain anyone request to provide my Personal Identifiable Information over TXT to a unknown person via a craigslist ad.

Tell him you'll meet him at the Austin PD, at the front window. You can do the deal there.. If it's above board.. he should have no issues doing so in-front of his peers and supervisors.

I cant blame the guy for protecting himself in a transaction that if it went bad (sold to an unauthorized buyer) it would likely impact his career, much more then a walmart employee. And as he has a way and means to verify your legal resident status a bit more them most others, and has more to lose..I can understand his caution. .. as well as yours

[Rex B]

Well, if I wanted your DL#, all I need is your name, car tag number, or home address, and PublicData.com.

Still I would not give it up. Your response was more than adequate. Since he's still balking, I'd tell him. "Forget the Glock. If you want the bike, it's a cash deal. If not, I have a couple other people on hold. Let me know."

[leftyonly]

Just checking, but it would not happen to be this guy would it?

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/stol ... ustin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sjfcontrol]

Just checking, but it would not happen to be this guy would it?

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/stol ... ustin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That is an AMAZING thread. Haven't finished it yet, but WOW, talk about dumb crooks! It boggles the mind...

[RoyGBiv]

How about turning the table.... Ask him for his badge number and station location, then call his Sargent (Captain?) to verify his LE status. "Sargent Jones, I'm calling to verify that officer Smith, badge number 12345, is an officer with your unit." If he balks at giving you his info, walk away from the transaction. Any LEO would be required to give this info to a citizen at a traffic stop, so he has little excuse not to give it to you. If his LE status checks out, give him your CHL number and let him "run it" if he has a way to do so without cause.

Just my $0.02

[Dragonfighter]

He can't legally run your DL or Criminal History for personal use.

If the FTF has a strange feeling DO NOT GO. Someone else will come along and buy it.

This. To get my CJIS cert we had to go through a 20 hour class (maybe only ten but it felt like twenty) and sign a ton of papers saying in effect that I would not provide any data other then what was pertinent to the emergency or specific to a case, I would not let people see it and if I did not only could I be faced with a letter of charges (terminated) but could be prosecuted. They are serious about this stuff and that's just the fire side. All our Cops, dispatchers, firefighters and everyone in the IT system has to be certified and trained by federal mandate. Some agencies are under a grace period for lack of resources but otherwise they have only so long to get compliant. At best this guy has no regard for the laws involved, at worst he is trying to get personal information for nefarious use. If he is willing to pay the fee for the FFL that is the ONLY way I would let him near me.

[Salty1]

If this guy was really a cop wouldn't he know that as a ccw the FFL won't even run my info or do a 4473?

Just as a point of record, I have done this many times for private sellers and buyers. I enter the firearm into my book as receiving it, have the buyer complete the 4473, if the background check is necessary then I complete it, once complete it I sign the gun out to the new owner. Many people want a record when they sell a firearm so there name is no longer associated with it. I have explained to the seller that it is not required but they feel better if done that way.

[JeepGuy79]

I would go through an FFL if it was like that on craigslist IF you did the trade. Besides the danger of the situation, you have no way of knowing where that gun came from or what it has been used in. I had trouble getting local PD to do a NICS check on a handgun I bought F2F. It is sad too, cause if you are caught with a stolen arm you are responsible for it.

Just all sounds too fishy for me. I would go cash only.

[rjr5545]

He didn't call back and add I will be the guy behind the dumpster wearing the black ski mask. Or he calls his wife give her the info, all is good and next week you have three new accounts. Let it go, better deals to come.