Scams on Audiogon (McIntosh Amps)

Yes this is endemic everywhere.

Those who consider becoming scammers calculate the deal on a risk/reward basis.  The risk is that of being caught multiplied by the penalty.  These are in inverse ratio.

There is a very low probability of being caught.  Ergo to deter, the punishment needs to be very severe, 

Currently the punishment is not severe.  Ergo there is a lot of scamming.

It's in our hands to solve this.  No point in whinging here.

There are "knockoffs" of McIntosh gear made in China...They look Exactly like genuine Mac gear. On Mac's website they name the dealers that are NOT authorized Mac dealers. Always check there before any Mac purchase.

Common sense trumps all!

Too good to be true..... 

When you are dealing with high dollar purchases on here, the only thing to do is read the seller’s feedback and insist on an escrow service. I haven’t used one, but I suspect that the escrow fees are probably similar to the fees that PayPal charges anyway.  Even good feedback does not guarantee that the seller has fallen on hard times and you are the first one to be scammed.  It is the sad reality of these times.