This has become a problem here in the Fairbanks area, and if it is happening here I am sure it is going on somewhere else in the country.
Back before the election and right after, some enterprising people bought up a bunch of AR-15 type actions. Then after the election, these enterprising people bought cheap mismatching parts and put together complete rifles. These rifles will not function properly, and are full of problems. But they look good. They are now selling these rifles for $1,500.00 to $1,600.00 by private sale, to unsuspecting buyers. Once the gun is sold the seller either disappears or claims nothing else to do with the gun. The buyer then takes it to a gunsmith and finds out the gun needs to be totally rebuilt. Also that many of the parts are cheap parts coming in from China or elsewhere overseas, and the gunsmith won't in good conscious reuse them.
None of the gun shops here in Fairbanks will take these guns in on consignment either. So if you are looking at a AR-15 type gun make sure you know the seller and that he will stand behind the product.