(with video below) It can happen to you anywhere - in a mall, on the street, in a parking lot, etc. It involves selling brand name clothes or accessories, whether they are Armani, Versace, Gucci, Burberry, or others.
Imagine this scenario: a man with a foreign accent approaches you, sparking up a conversation. He mentions he is from Italy (or any other country) and is in town for a fashion show. He says the show went very well, but he still has some high-end designer clothes that he can't really take back to Italy, because the customs taxes would be high.
Watch the video below to see in action a real case of this scam, caught on camera:
Scammer Caught On Camera Video
Very convincing, while holding a passport in his hand, he says he is willing to sell the clothes for less than half of their price. Conveniently, he has the clothes "right there", in his "rental" car's trunk. You pay a few hundred dollars, are happy with the brand name clothes you bought, and go home.
If you fall into this trap, what you don't know is that the clothes are actually imitations made in China, for which they paid $30-$40/piece. The most popular items that crooks sale in the back of their cars are leather jackets for men, followed by scarfs and shoes, whether those are Armani, Gucci, Versace, or Burberry brands.
It could also happen to you during holidays. The scammer would justify the low prices as a gift to you for telling him how to get back to the airport. You may not think of it as a sale, but rather a favor-for-favor exchange of good deeds.
Never believe anybody who sells stuff in parking lots. In this specific case, don't fall for the passport he holds in his hand, or even the rental car. It is also known as the Leather Jacket Scam and belongs to the same family of fraudulent approaches as the Fixing Car In Parking Lot Scam or the Electronics For Sale 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 your local Police station or to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:
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Educate yourself with the videos below:
This movie shows how a victim lost over $30,000 to an intricate scheme which is still around years later.
