Need some online help

[BrianG]

Unless part of the person's real name is in the email address, or you happen to hit on something with a Google search, I can't think of a way.

First of all, if it's a gmail, yahoo, any free email service, there are no checks to make sure you are who you say you are - at least none that I remember when I signed up.

If it's a "business" address, you may be able to look up the company's employee profile if it's not that big, and maybe match a person with the email addy.

If it's an ISP email (like "jsmith@aol.com"), I don't think you can get much info without a court order or something.

There might be something in the raw email header, but good luck with that.

So, I would meet this person face to face before any sale is final. Even ask him why he would trade a Quad for a jetski. Could be totally on the up and up; maybe he moved near a lake or whatever.