Originally Posted by
Jeff Neese
I'll offer a counterpoint and say sure, go ahead and buy it. Any bike listed for sale has the potential to be stolen, and it's not your responsibility to make that determination. It's not like you're buying it out of the back of a van. It's listed publicly, and if you found it then so could the original owner and so could the police. You can't be accused of "trafficking in stolen goods" if it was publicly offered. Just save the original listing if you have any doubts. Go rescue that frame!
If it is stolen then giving the guy money for it just encourages more bike theft. Plus if it's stolen then you're in possession of stolen property, which receiving stolen property is a crime in most states. Even if you're not charged, if the police recover it you would be out the money you paid for it.