Fake firearm dealer websites scamming Nebraskans

LINCOLN, Neb. — Anyone who does any shooting can tell you it's an expensive hobby. Guns, ammo and accessories can bring a significant cost, and a new scam hitting the heartland is taking advantage of firearm enthusiasts searching for a better deal.

With prices on just about everything going up lately, lots of folks are out there searching for deals, but for those searching for cheap guns and ammo, the deals might be too good to be true.

“Fictitious or outright fraudulent websites are purportedly sending guns and various guns accessories to folks provided that they would pay for those items like cryptocurrency and peer-to-peer payment methods, most notably Zelle,” said Josh Planos, Vice President of Communication and Public Relations for the Better Business Bureau.

These websites are designed to look just like a legitimate dealer, and they often have contact information and addresses that are allegedly from Nebraska. But in reality, those locations either never existed or have been closed for years.