a guy tried to sell me a home stereo system in parking lot again? (Sacramento: for sale, cheap home)

[mr bolo]

I was getting in my car at Fry's electronics and a couple guys drove up and ask if Im interested in a brand new home stereo system for a $1000 , they said they received an extra one by mistake and cant ship it back, ete, etc

another time I was getting in my car at another business / grocery store and the same type of thing happened, a guy says he's the manager from something, a contracter or something like that and says he has a extra home stereo system for sale brand new in the box, etc and tells me the same story about getting an extra one and cant send it back etc

I just say Im not interested and he drives away, is this some type of scam thats common in the Sacramento area?

because this has happened two times in less than a year

[Majin]

Originally Posted by mr bolo

I just say Im not interested and he drives away, is this some type of scam thats common in the Sacramento area?

No, its common all over the country.

White van speaker scam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[calnbs]

Yeah, it's known as White Van Scam. They buy these cheap Home Theater Systems for around $50 and it comes with all these fake magazines and various other stuff claiming that these Home Theater Systems are worth $1000-$3000 and that you are getting a great deal if you buy from them.

You will see a ton of these systems sold on ebay and craigslist as well. Do not buy Home Theater Systems without doing your research. Many of these cheap speakers sometimes have similar names as the real brand to trick folks who aren't fimiliar with speaker brands.

You can usually tell the fake brands from legit brands. Most fake brands will post their MSRP price on the box and the box will be very colorful. LOL, many times, I want to add BOSE to the speaker scam list as well. LMFAO. They are pretty much overpriced computer speakers. LOL.

Here are some of the names you need to avoid. I need to update this list as they have made changes as their scams catches on:

* Audio Wood Products
* Advance Engineering Research
? Audiofile
*Audio Tech
* Acoustic Lab Technology
* Acoustic Monitor
* Acoustic Response (not to be confused with the company Acoustic Research, which involved the famous and respected Henry Kloss, who went on to found KLH and Cambridge Soundworks), Acoustic Image, Acoustic Lab Technology
* Blue Ridge Sound Engineering
* Century Distributors PTY LTD
* Canyon Audio (not to confused with Canary, these are basically the same as Theater Research)
*DanWave
* Denmark (not to be confused with Denon)
* Dogg Digital, Digital Dogg Audio (reportedly very popular on eBay)
* DCS Digital Audio (Logo looks similar the the DTS logo)
* Dahlton
* Dynalab (not to be confused with Dynamat)
* Digital Pro Audio
* Digital Audio, Digital Audio Professional Speaker Systems, Digital Audio Skyline
* Digital Research
* Divinci
* Divinci Audio
* Elite Audio (another Theater Research brand, less common)
* Epiphany
* Epic
*Fleetwood Audio
*Genesis
* Genesis Media Lab
* Grafdale
* Epiphany Audio
* Innovative Sound Digital Pro Audio
* JAM Entertainment/JAM Enterprises, now known as Kelfi Distributors
* Kirsch (not to confused with Klipsch)
* Linear Phase studio monitors
*Matrix Audio
*Millenium, Millenium MTS
* Omni Audio or Omni Audio Products
* Orca Distributors
* Olin Ross
* PTS (Precision Transducer Systems)
* Palermo VA6.1
*Pro Audio
* Pro Dynamics Pro Platinium Series
* Protecsound
* Proline Acoustic
* Paradyme (not to be confused with Paradigm)
*Paramax
* PCS
* PSD (jokingly referred to as Paid Scam Drivers). Not to be confused with PSB.
* Republic Distributors, Inc. (parent of Omni and Dynalab) or Republic Distributors Of Canada or Republic Distribution GmbH
* Samaurai
* SDAT(Super Dumb Audio Theme)
* Sinclair Audio
* Streem
* Sound Illusion Production
*Skyline, Skyline Digital
* Studio Tech
* Theater Innovations
* Theater Research (has many other names)
* Theater Logic* Global Audio Network
* Paramax
*Protechnik PT-525
*OLIN ROSS SOUND SYSTEMS

[canadian citizen]

That scam is also seen here in Canada. Same type of crap equipment, encased in a jazzy type of cabinet, with speakers that LOOK great. The parts inside are junk, and the scammers buy them for less than $100, at a wholesale warehouse.

Jim B

Toronto.

[stan4]

Why would anyone buy anything out of the back of a van, regardless of whether or not it was really 'a good deal'?

[ryuns]

Haha. People will buy pretty anything from anyone if they think it's a good deal. I've had people drive from all corners of the metro area to buy a $10 item I posted on Craigslist. That's obviously a less sketchy proposition, but I'm always surprised at the lengths people go to get a good deal.

[calnbs]

I like to laugh at those craigslist posts:

"I have a 2008 Honda Accord for sale $5,000. I'm moving out of the country" posts, if you want to buy, please wire money through Western Union and we'll ship the car out to you."

And some people actually send the money. LMAO.

[Anikalana]

I've had this experience, too - just within the last week or so. I work in Rancho Cordova, and was taking a late walk (it was probably after 4:00 pm) with a co-worker, when we were approached by a young man as we entered the parking lot who gave us some spiel about being a contractor who was installing home theater equipment and had extra that he couldn't send back. He even claimed he was giving it away for free. He immediately came across as a scammer and neither of us were interested, so we didn't even look to see what he had. We probably should have feigned interest, if only to get the details of what he was offering - and the license plate number of his vehicle.

[NickB1967]

I have always wondered why these people don't just go to swap meets and flea markets and try their scam. Or is the exposure risk there too high?

[My Other Self]

This hasn't happened to me here but I was approached by some guy at a Best Buy parking lot in Phoenix to buy a brand new LCD TV for $100. I told him no and he went to the next guy.