Beware of Macbooks Sold in Parking Lots: Boxes Filled with Mirrors or Liquids
Imagine this scenario: You are at the supermarket. You’re filling your trunk with the groceries you’ve just bought and you’re thinking of what you’ll be doing next today. While you’re finishing up, another customer passing by you politely says hi. You respond, so there is a quick chit-chat going on. After referring to the gas price, he shows you a brand new shiny laptop that he has for sale.
You’re still not very interested in the offer, but he continues. “I ordered for my company eight Macbooks and they sent me and charged me for 10. I have them in my trunk. I would sell you one of the two extra ones for the face value, $400, instead of sending them back”.
Scam Detectors Most Trusted Websites in Online Security
- Guard.io (100): Protect your digital world on any device – Guardio stops scams and phishing in their tracks.
- Incogni.com (100): Delete your personal data from the internet and protect against scams and identity theft.
- ExpressVPN (100) Stay secure and anonymous online - Best VPN Out There
The laptop trully looks good and the price seems right. “Here, he says, they are all sealed, in mint condition”, while he opens his car trunk. It seems true. The trunk has a bunch of FedEx boxes wrapped in protective plastic, as they were just being shipped.
This happened to a couple of victims in Arlington and Charlotte, US, who both paid scammers a couple of hundred dollars after negotiations that made them feel victorious about their glorious discount. As soon as they paid, the crooks took off, leaving them opening the box and finding a mirror with the silver back that resembled an iPad (in the first case) and a cord and two clipboards wrapped in a bubble wrap (in the second case).
The scammers parked their cars outside the video surveillance area, as well as made sure were leaving in the opposite way from the victims, so they wouldn’t see the license plate.
In an alternative scam that just happened in the UK, a few victims received ‘unopened’ laptop boxes filled with lemonade. That is no joke, see HERE.
Laptops For Sale in Parking Lots: How To Avoid
Never buy things in a parking lot or outside of a gas station. Crooks not only trick victims with electronic devices but also with fake leather jackets for sale, such as Armani or Versace.
How To Report a Scammer
Warn your family and friends about the Laptops for Sale Scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:
How To Protect Yourself More
If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You’ll receive periodic emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
Verify Another website
Are you just about to make a purchase online? See if the website is legit with our validator:
vldtr®
TOP 4 MUST-WATCH FRAUD PREVENTION VIDEOS
1. Top 5 Amazon Scams in 2024 2. Top 5 PayPal Scams in 2024 3. How To Spot a Scam Email in 2024
- Latest Posts by Selma Hrynchuk
-
Compromised Credit Card Scam
- -
Fake Google Chrome Update
- -
Facebook Privacy Notice Hoax
- All Posts
Parking lot sales have been going on for decades and decades.
In the 70’s and 80s it was stereos and speakers.
I knew a couple workers of Tweeter ect… who made wooden boxes with less than
5 bucks worth of material ,put them cardboard boxes with stickers and tape from the store.
“Manufacturers suggested retail price 499.00. $125.00 today only
Sell just 4 or 5 pairs a day, plus a box or two of bricks labled Marantz, Pioneer , Sansui.
500 ,600 dollars in one day in the 70s was a very good month for 3 or 4 days of it.
Let things cool down then next week next town.
I also remember a perfectly legit guy, though he didn’t have a permit, selling discontinued speakers in a parking lot, who was beat up by two guys who got scammed, and around 10 of his REAL speakers wete taken from his van cuz they blamed him for being part of the group of scammers.
But today, they’re territorial , like corner drug dealers are.
And if they tell you 300, 400 , and then you follow them to their car, then in their mind you just told them you got 400 cash on you.
There’s a very good chance you won’t have a dime 10 minutes later.
Some people just don’t think about getting scammed when they’re out in broad daylight in a public place like a grocery store parking lot,
Then when they see legit looking boxes, their own brain drops common sense out the window when they believe they’re getting a good deal
.
Pretty stupid from the woman that purchased the fake laptop. She should have ask the guy to open the box containing the laptop…and look at the license plate. When it sounds to good to be true, stay away, it’s 99% a scam.