How the scam works:
(with video below) You finally find a parking spot and are happy to see there is no signage indicating 'No Parking'. You visit a couple of shops, run a few errands and return to see somebody waiting for you.
They say you're parked on their private property and have a wheel clamp mounted on your tire preventing you from going anywhere.
The landowner is very mad and says he'll remove the lock only if you pay him $100 on the spot – otherwise he will take you to court and you'll lose a lot more. You are in a bit of a hurry and certainly don't want to spend a day in court. What you should realize is that unfortunately you are in one of two scenarios:
1. You really are on private property and you are the victim of a cash extortion. Watch the video below to see how wheel clamping is illegal, whether you live in US, UK, Canada or Australia:
Wheel Clamping Is Illegal Video2. This man may not be the property owner, but just a scammer who "supervises" an empty lot.
How to avoid the Wheel Clamp scam:
Ask for credentials. First, establish that this person is the owner before you even respond. Consider calling the cops. With no signs telling you not to park there, they don't have much of a case and certainly don't have grounds to put your car in a vice. The other option, of course, is to park in an area you know is trustworthy – even if you have to pay.
How to report the Wheel Clamp scam:
Make your family and friends aware of this 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:
Report To The FTC Here
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 periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.
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