Be Aware: Parking Lot Scam!!!!!!!

[CustomTouch]

Today I was getting out of Erin Mills town center in mississauga and as I was walking towards my car, a guy rolls up in what appears to be a burgandy 1998 chevy blazer. It had a large Chevy logo on the rear window and I believe sum Dale Earnhart sickers on the side windows. N e ways, this guy stops me and asks if I'm interested in some home audio equipment, I ask what him what he has and then parks and shows me. He said the guys at the warehouse loaded some extra boxes and needs to get rid of them. They were some Divinci branded speakers boxed and packaged niceley. Right amongst the the boxes, he had a magazine with the product in it. It was in there with a price of 3500. He mentioned that he was an installer and needed to be at another job within an hour and had to get rid of 2 extra boxes. I simply told him I wasn't interested. I got home and wondered what kind of deal I could of had myself so i googled the product. Sure enough, info on this big ass scam ring popped up. Many ppl have been fuked over by these guys, they say the same **** to everyone and sell the ****** product for whatever they can get for it. check the link below. I was able to snap some pics of the truck but the plate # came out all blurry. Please be careful guys!!!!!!

http://www.scamshield.com/Sighting.asp?state=none&country=Canada&article=1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Big_Lunn/pic003-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/Big_Lunn/pic004-1.jpg

[mitboi]

i think this is the infamous "white van speaker scam"~
good thing the op didn't get tricked into it.. :)

[Jucius Maximus]

This scam has been operating for years now... good on you to walk away without prior knowledge!

I encountered these guys once at a gas station and I also had the same response.

[gretzky99]

What was the race/ethnicity of these guys?


Age/height/weight?

[boyoflondon]

Welcome to 1999 ........

What was the race/ethnicity of these guys?


Age/height/weight?

What difference does this make?!?! It is not like a certain race does this kind of scam ...

If you really want to know, the 2 times I have been approached, they have been white males in their 20s/30s

[Dash]

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.

[dragon_drift]

Note: Random people/strangers trying to sell you stuff, say no thanks

[CustomTouch]

the guy looked like Ben Stellar. he was about 5'5, 30yrs old, dark hair w/ the top about 2" long and short sides, i would say 160-175lbs, as for race he looked persian.

[originalnutta]

Had some guy do this to me in Mississuaga.

He was a pretty good actor, but i blew him off.

He waved me down while i was driving. Said that he wants to give me a deal on these speakers, and he doesn't want to let his boss know. Aww, how sweet of him.

I just kept driving. "Laterz"

[tina t]

Had some guy do this to me in Mississuaga.

He was a pretty good actor, but i blew him off.

He waved me down while i was driving. Said that he wants to give me a deal on these speakers, and he doesn't want to let his boss know. Aww, how sweet of him.

I just kept driving. "Laterz"

exactly the same thing happened to us at a gas station in the winston churchill/401 area a few months ago! it kills me how these guys can keep such a straight face while lying through their teeth!

[N_Raged]

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.
hahah, nice logic. :lol:

[sillysimms]

This is apparently common. A similar thing happened recently to my husband at the Canadian Tire parking lot (Dundas/Mavis in Mississauga). A guy in a truck stopped him when he was walking to his car and had 3 leather jackets. He had flyers from somewhere (didn't get all the details from hubby) that showed very expensive prices. He said he was here on "business" and bought too many jackets because he got a good deal. He couldn't travel back with all of them and needed to sell them. He'd give a *very* good price. Another scam.

[champlinD]

Yeah. these is common. It happened to me way back in 1998.
Oya in Mississuga Parking Lot. near Matheson Blvd E/Dixie ( Dixie/401.)

[chrza]

Had some guy do this to me in Mississuaga.

He was a pretty good actor, but i blew him off.

He waved me down while i was driving. Said that he wants to give me a deal on these speakers, and he doesn't want to let his boss know. Aww, how sweet of him.

I just kept driving. "Laterz"

lol.

[chrza]

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.

Haha, that's a fair logic to have.

[zoolander]

My friend bought a pair of these Divincis 2 years ago. I remember the day he told me how he got this great deal on the way to work and I, already knowing the scam, finished off his story as I was crying from laughter.

Pretty slick...http://www.divincisound.com/about2.htm

I think they are a division of Bose;)

[majesus]

Yeah once in Safeway someone wanted to sell my some audio equipment out of the back of their VAN.

I always do this when I know a person wants to bum money from me or are trying to pull a scam.
I just look at them in eye, and in the most Swedish Chef accent I can do
I say: "NO ENGLISH!"
http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/thumb/f/f8/Swedishchef2.JPG/300px-Swedishchef2.JPG

It usually stops them cold in the tracks, they just kinda look like they are confused in wonder... Does he speak ENGLISH? By the time the snap out of it, I'm good as gone.

[blainehamilton]

LOL. No english. Priceless...

[belowzeros]

yea it's a scam, they finally got the internets and got a new truck

[serathe]

Hehe. I think for most, common sense just tells you somethings up. Haven't had that happen.

The odd things I've come across...

Someone trying to sell me a new VCR cheap at a gas station. Was just like.. Yeah no thanks man.

Other was very odd and I've never seen anything like this.. But something was funny. My guess would be fake money.

I was at a gas station and this dude comes up to me asking for a quarter to use the pay phone, but only had a $100.00 bill. Something fishy. I just gave him a quarter.

[jp06]

i should carry fake cash and scam them even though their stuff are garbage. But it will be a good trade... fake stuff for fake stuff

[D-Roc]

I would have told him that I have a cop buddy I am meeting in as he just pulled into the parking lot (just got off the cell with him) and he would be interested.

[Dash]

hahah, nice logic. :lol:

Haha, that's a fair logic to have.

i'm half joking but half serious as well. You really do get some AMAZING deals from crackheads. they'll sell you a $1000 laptop for $100, an ipod touch for $30, or an Xbox360 for $50.

[boonjaca]

I remember I was on my way home and some guy in a white Cadillac Escalade made a u-turn just to stop me, instead of stereo equipment, he had Hugo Boss suits for cheap. He stopped in the middle of the road and chatted me for 10 seconds before I sped off.

[Canuck_2005]

Earlier this summer I was at the SHELL station at Trafalger/Steeles. These guys in the white van pull up to me and try and tell me about the speakers. I told them no thanks that i know their game. Then they drive over to this younge east indian guy and talk to him, he pulls around to go park with them. I ran over and told him IT IS A SCAM. he ignored me and went to do a deal with these guys anyway... what an idiot

[rb]

I was at the Loblaws near Erin Mills and same guys (driving a white Escalade I think ) tried the same - said no politely and drove away

[Eyies]

Uninformed purchases on products you don't know of ftl.

Greed is pretty gg.

[N_Raged]

i'm half joking but half serious as well. You really do get some AMAZING deals from crackheads. they'll sell you a $1000 laptop for $100, an ipod touch for $30, or an Xbox360 for $50.
Should post on Hot Deals, or BST.

[Setz]

i'm half joking but half serious as well. You really do get some AMAZING deals from crackheads. they'll sell you a $1000 laptop for $100, an ipod touch for $30, or an Xbox360 for $50.

A friend of mine traded two dimebags for an ipod touch a week ago.

[Dash]

A friend of mine traded two dimebags for an ipod touch a week ago.

that's a good deal!

I see you're from the Falls. so, I'm guessing Hamilton or Stoney Creek is where this happened?

[Bskll]

http://lolcat.com/pics/itsatrap.jpg

[Setz]

that's a good deal!

I see you're from the Falls. so, I'm guessing Hamilton or Stoney Creek is where this happened?

No clue.

[chrza]

i'm half joking but half serious as well. You really do get some AMAZING deals from crackheads. they'll sell you a $1000 laptop for $100, an ipod touch for $30, or an Xbox360 for $50.

Howcome you never post them on RFD?

[CustomTouch]

no one has seen this SUV??? Anyone in the pickering area know of this guy?

[consumerPI]

So wrong but so VERY true. :D

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.

[consumerPI]

Let me guess, some story about attending a fashion show in Toronto and he has extra samples of name brand - Hugo Boss suits/leather jackets that he doesn't want to bring back on the plane and he is heading to the airport.

I feel so insulted when I get approached by these fawkers. Like they picked me cause I look stupid or something. I wonder what would happen if one of their potential victims smashed their taillights during one of these occasions. Would the scammer call the cops? Maybe not as they may get arrested for trying to scam you. Hmmmm.

I remember I was on my way home and some guy in a white Cadillac Escalade made a u-turn just to stop me, instead of stereo equipment, he had Hugo Boss suits for cheap. He stopped in the middle of the road and chatted me for 10 seconds before I sped off.

[plymouthhater]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_van_speakers

The typical white van speaker scam involves one or two individuals, who are usually dressed in T-shirts and jeans or business uniforms. They drive an SUV or a commercial vehicle (usually a white commercial van, which is the cheapest to rent) that often displays a company logo. To find suitable targets, the van operators set up their con in moderately trafficked areas—parking lots, gas stations, colleges, large apartment complexes—or even watch heavy traffic for people driving expensive cars and wave them down. The marks are usually affluent young men, college students, or others thought to have large amounts of disposable income.

The operators claim that they work for an audio retailer or audio installer, and that, through some sort of corporate error (warehouse operator mistake, bookkeeping mistakes, computer glitches, etc.) or due to the client changing the order after supplies were purchased, they have extra speakers. For varying reasons they need to dispose of the speakers quickly and are willing to get rid of them at "well below retail" prices. The con artists will repeatedly state the speaker "value" as anywhere between $1800 and $3000, prices often purportedly verified by showing a brochure or a magazine advertisement. They will usually also have an official looking website verifying their claims.

If the mark declines the offer, the speakerguy uses various high-pressure negotiation and sales tactics to change the mark's mind. Among these techniques are producing any other glossy material that details the quality and high retail value of the speakers, and bombarding the potential customer with technical jargon, whether correctly or incorrectly used. If still unable to convince the mark that he is turning down an incredible offer, speakermen will almost always significantly lower the price immediately (the actual cost of the speakers may be less than 3% of the MSRP). Some speakerguys will even suggest that, since the customer got such a great deal, he should pay a little extra as beer money for his supposed benefactor.

[weedb0y]

I enjoyed their previous Pro Audio Tower speakers. They turned out to be pretty decent sounding..lol

[KorruptioN]

I enjoyed their previous Pro Audio Tower speakers. They turned out to be pretty decent sounding..lol

You obviously don't know what good sound is supposed to be :lol:

I saw some guys doing their white-van thing at a Shell station, at Dufferin and Wilson. They looked like high-quality individuals...

[iluvmikeharris]

i should carry fake cash and scam them even though their stuff are garbage. But it will be a good trade... fake stuff for fake stuff

I as just thinking of this too. It would also work well for the guy who suggested buying from crackheads, as the counterfeit cash would continue to flow through the black market until some gangbanger realizes it's fake cash and knifes the crackhead. Done and done!

[doorbellring]

I as just thinking of this too. It would also work well for the guy who suggested buying from crackheads, as the counterfeit cash would continue to flow through the black market until some gangbanger realizes it's fake cash and knifes the crackhead. Done and done!

yeah! what a productive way to fix the system. :lol:

With any luck though the gangbanger will spend the fake money buying products from other unscrupulous individuals continuing the cycle even further....

[watching]

You obviously don't know what good sound is supposed to be :lol:

I saw some guys doing their white-van thing at a Shell station, at Dufferin and Wilson. They looked like high-quality individuals...


LOL, high-quality individuals at Dufferin and Wilson a.k.a. oxymoron :lol:

[KorruptioN]

LOL, high-quality individuals at Dufferin and Wilson a.k.a. oxymoron :lol:

Sarcasm :lol:

[jp06]

no one has seen this SUV??? Anyone in the pickering area know of this guy?

the problem is, these scammers can drive any coloured SUV or VAN to do their scamming. I've seen these scammers in BLACK and WHITE Yukons, Escalades, Denali, Minivans, etc driving around P-Mall and First Markham Place several different times (asian malls are the wrong place to sell speakers IMO). It's just to make themselves more appealing but who knows if they even own those vehicles.

[phomp]

These guys used to come to the college parking lot and try to sell them to students.. lol. I always just would say "I have no cash" and they would drive away pretty quickly.

One guy I know bargined them way down to $200 or something like that and apprantly the speakers are decent for a small room at that cheap of a price..

[almostfreeman]

Who do I make the cheque out to? :|

[hyperion]

Tell them you're calling the cops and see how fast they'll squeal their tires.

[comicbookguy]

i was driving east on eglinton just before bayview. a gmc astro van drives up beside me and a guy starts yelling to roll my windows down. i thought it was weird that he was trying to sell me speakers while on the road, he sounded like he was on speed. i never thought about googling it, but i find it curious that this scam is so prevalent. i'm even more surprised that people actually fall for this. i'm a firm believer in the old adage, "too good to be true". i learned this the hard way while backpacking in europe.

girls aren't supposed to have adam's apples.

[almostfreeman]

i'm a firm believer in the old adage, "too good to be true". i learned this the hard way while backpacking in europe.

girls aren't supposed to have adam's apples.

LMFAO :lol: I would like to hear the whole story. Sounds like a good one... :lol:

[ricoboxing]

same thing happened to me last week at the pickering town center parking lot. some chinese dude with his gf in the SUV pull up to me and tell me about their $2500 speakers so i offer him $30. He says "maybe times 10" and just drives away.

happened another time at the pickering flea market too.

[Lone_Prodigy]

Umm, you do know that crackheads sell you stolen goods... what if the police trace it to you. Not sure if you'd be an accomplice to theft, lose the item, etc.

[Kasakato]

Umm, you do know that crackheads sell you stolen goods... what if the police trace it to you. Not sure if you'd be an accomplice to theft, lose the item, etc.

You would be in possession of stolen goods. Unless you helped steal the goods, or knew they were stolen, there is little chance for prosecution. Of course you'd also have to return the goods.

[superock]

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.

+1
and they never know what the real value of an item is (I myself have gotten some good deals off these guys)

[CustomTouch]

the problem is, these scammers can drive any coloured SUV or VAN to do their scamming. I've seen these scammers in BLACK and WHITE Yukons, Escalades, Denali, Minivans, etc driving around P-Mall and First Markham Place several different times (asian malls are the wrong place to sell speakers IMO). It's just to make themselves more appealing but who knows if they even own those vehicles.


I posted pictures on the first page of the SUV, It's got a huge chevey sticker on the back and sum dale earnhart ones on the sides. the truck was a red/burgandy and he was a persian looking dude.

[acidbaby]

just to clarify. its not stlen good these guys peddling
its garbage product that they sell for a high price
play on emtions to get u to think u are buying this elite high end product and are getting a steal/ back of the truck deal. once in a lifetime deal u be stupid to turn down. even if u called the cops what whould they do. nothing, they wouldnt be able to charge them with a crime.

[Canuck32]

I wonder what would happen if one of their potential victims smashed their taillights during one of these occasions. Would the scammer call the cops? Maybe not as they may get arrested for trying to scam you. Hmmmm.

Gonna put my criminal lawyer hat on for a second. Could you possibly point out what these guys are doing that is actually illegal? Are they claiming the product is one thing when it's actually something else?

[boyoflondon]

I had a totally new encounter with my gf this weekend in the parking lot of Square One.

Two guys, in a brand new Ford Flexx pull up and the driver busts out an Italian accent with a story;

He works for Armani and they had a show in Toronto. He is leaving in 2 hours and has this clothes he wants to get rid of.

I laughed at him and said no Thanks ...

[ES_Revenge]

LOL the ol' White Van Speaker Scam only without the white van!

I remember one time they caught some of these guys on the news (I think it was CTV) and then the guys in the van started threatening the camera crew and reporter with physical violence. And the reporter is telling them how he's calling the police and then they say to the reporter "go ahead and call them" etc.

Eventually the white van guys themselves call the police on CTV! So sure enough the cops show up and proceed arrest the white van guys and take them away :lol: They essentially called the cops on themselves. I laughed and laughed at that segment...

[computer01]

Gonna put my criminal lawyer hat on for a second. Could you possibly point out what these guys are doing that is actually illegal? Are they claiming the product is one thing when it's actually something else?

While these guys are selling a crap product with literature that claims the price is thousands more than the product is worth, there is very little they are doing that is illegal.

About the worst they could be done for is operating a business without a vendor's permit. You'd have to prove that they did more than $30,000 worth of business to get them for not collecting taxes.

To me, this is akin to a clothing store advertising a "super-sale" where everything is 90% off. The original price was $1399 for this dress and now it's only $140. What a bargain.

The funny thing is that many people on the "white-van scam sites" actually report that they're quite happy with the quality of the speakers and would do the purchase again.

To each their own.

[iplom]

never buy from random people selling stuff out of the trunk unless they look like crack addicts. It they look professional and have a good story, then it's always a scam or rip off. Crack addicts on the other hand sell you good stuff for dirt cheap. way better value imo.

:D LOL!

Very true.

[Flyhigh]

This exact same thing happened to me, at the parking lot at Future Shop on Dundas/Dixie. Same old trying to sell me speakers at good prices. LMAO. However, the only difference is that they were driving a Lexus RX330. Prob rented. The things they'll do to make themselves look legit.