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 Advisory

Scams Using Fraudulent or Manipulated NFA Registration Documents

TO ALL FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES (FFLs) AND FIREARM PURCHASERS

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is advising the public to be aware of fraudulent National Firearms Act (NFA) tax registration forms being used to sell NFA firearms. Some individuals are presenting altered NFA Form 4’s to prospective buyers in order to obtain a deposit, but never deliver the firearms . . .

A typical scam starts with a perpetrator (seller) claiming ownership of an NFA firearm through an altered Form 4, and then contacting an FFL to see if that FFL is interested in purchasing the NFA firearm. If the FFL expresses interest, the seller then requests that the FFL pay a percentage of the money upfront via cashier’s check and the remainder of the money after the ATF Form 4 paperwork is finalized. All communication is done via email. If the fraudulent documents are printed, they appear to be rough scans of an original approved ATF Form 4. However, if the documents are viewed on a computer screen and are magnified, it often becomes evident that various sections have been altered.

To avoid this scam, FFL’s and individuals should be aware of the following:

• The seller usually communicates via email.

• In box 1 (Type of Transfer), the tax stamp should be legible with a precise area for the serial number of the weapon to be hand written. The tax stamp has proven to be the most effective way to detect a fraudulent form. The perpetrators often paste a serial number over the serial number on the stamp. Upon closer inspection, it is often possible to detect the outline of the fraudulent serial number.

• In box 3a (Transferor), if the firearm was previously transferred from an FFL, the name of the FFL is often misspelled. A simple internet query for that FFL may assist those who suspect a scam.

• If applicable, box 7 (Transferor’s FFL) will contain the Federal Firearms Licensee number which should be verified through the FFL eZ Check system. FFL eZ Check is a free service, available on the ATF website at www.atf.gov/content/firearms/ firearms-industry/ applications-FFL-eZ-check. If you have general questions regarding the FFL eZ Check system, you may contact the Federal Firearms Licensing Center at 1-866-662-2750.

If you believe you have been contacted by an individual utilizing fraudulent NFA forms, or have otherwise come in contact with a fraudulent or manipulated form, please contact your local ATF field office as soon as possible for assistance. A list of local field offices can be found at http://www.atf.gov/content/ contact-us/local-atf-office.

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19 COMMENTS

  4. Anybody dumb enough to fall for this must still be waiting for a check from a Nigerian prince.

  6. Easy fix, people of the B-(burn)
    A- (all)
    T- (the)
    F-(families.)

    Not only stop enforcing unconstitutional infringements of our second amendement.
    But all of your command structure should turn themselves in for being complicit in gun running and murder.

    Then disband a government body that is rife with thuggery, corruption and lawlessness.

    See, problem fixed.

  7. Advisory

    Scams Using Fraudulent or Manipulated NFA Registration Documents

    TO ALL FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEES (FFLs) AND FIREARM PURCHASERS

    The ATF can only bill you, they cannot protect you (no one can), and their processes can be coopted by those who wish to do you harm.

  8. OK this article is unimportant. What is important is the .22 issue. No matter what the seemingly reliable and knowledgeable people are saying, there is something going on. At the very least manufacturers are purposely managing a shortage for price gouging or maybe it’s something worse. Ask yourself, how is it that there are no shortages in new guns available, even in new calibers. AR prices are falling back nearer to what they should be and everyone and there brother are making them. This is for us, the people of the gun. But the few .22’s around are hugely expensive and not available in any quantity. Even the mostly non gun people have .22’s. Control the .22 ammo and so much of the American firearm freedom is taken away. No .22’s means millions of average people (families) will have no means or method if the need should happen to arise. This sure seems to be a case of crisis manipulation….watch out.

    • I admit this has crossed my mind also. More than 2 years after the guns/ammo scare, the lowly 22LR is still nowhere to be found with any regularity?!

      • I’ve had pretty good luck at my local Cabela’s lately. They still limit you to 500 rounds, but the last several times I’ve been there they’ve had decent stock.

        • I’d love a couple .22s for practice and plinking but the ammo is ALWAYS sold out everywhere I look. I could order on the Internet but I prefer brick and mortar and instant-gratification for guns/ammo purchases. It doesn’t bode well that I’d be able to reliably feed anything chambered in .22LR

  10. Fake F4’s are nothing new. Just easier to fake nowadays thanks to photoshop and the internet.

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