Another victim of the ‘Have-I-got-an-iPad-deal-for-you’ scam
If it sounds too good to be true …
When two strangers waved what they called deeply discounted iPads and laptops at a Lilburn woman pumping gas recently, she thought she’d stumbled upon a potentially great deal.
Instead, the woman had stumbled upon one of the oldest scams in the book.
The men, who said they were Best Buy employees, offered to sell her two iPads and a laptop for just $500, the woman told Channel 2 Action News. The encounter occurred two weeks ago at a Quiktrip on Oakbrook Parkway in Gwinnett County.
Apple’s popular iPad starts at around $499 but can run much higher, depending on the memory.
The woman, who didn’t want to be identified, told Channel 2 the men assured her the items were from the retailer’s overstock. She and her mother followed the men to their car, which was stacked with “products.”
After the women handed over the cash, the men sped away. The bubble-wrapped iPads turned out to be pieces of glass lined with black duct tape, and the laptop was a three-ring binder stuffed with paper, Gwinnett police Cpl. Jake Smith told Channel 2. He said the packages had markings that made it appear the women were getting the real thing.
“I was like, ‘OK, what did I just do?’” the woman told Channel 2.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
101 comments Add your comment
Chris
February 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
Ah, the ol’ P-p-p-powerbook ruse!
http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/
CJ
February 3rd, 2012
2:51 pm
Unreal, was there someone standing next to you with a sign that said “I’m with stupid?”.
Joe Six Pack
February 3rd, 2012
2:55 pm
Got what she deserved. I mean seriously, did she really think Best Buy lets its employees just walk out with overstocks to sell on the street? She had to have known they were not legitimately acquired (stolen) thus proceeded anyway. Karma kicked you in your fake Louis Vuitton purse lady!
Vinny Diamonds
February 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
Last time i checked, common sense tells you that you do not pay for a product until you open it and see what it is. Truthfully, I would be embarassed to go to the news with this story
Andrew
February 3rd, 2012
3:02 pm
Two woman were attempting to buy STOLEN iPads and instead had their money stolen? Got what you deserved
the truth
February 3rd, 2012
3:07 pm
Stupid enough for carrying around at least $500 in cash to begin with.
Carl
February 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
I just love stupid people. They are what makes the world go round. Stupid, stupid, stupid and more stupid. A sucker born every minute…
Leary
February 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Ok, we all know s deal that is too good to be true is not true, but these are crooks that need to be caught.
Gilligan....AKA Professor
February 3rd, 2012
3:17 pm
I think anyone that wants an iPad is stupid.
@UrethraFranklyn
February 3rd, 2012
3:18 pm
LMAO @ 2:51 CJ
arlene
February 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Don’t people read the paper or look at the news? These scams go on all of the time. If it looks too good to be true…it isn’t true! Wake up, everybody
WithAGrainOfSalt
February 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
If it sounds too good to be true. if the crooks were really smart they would head over to Alabama. They would make a MINT!!
Bronxgirl
February 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
dumb.com…LOL!!!! @Carl, HILARIOUS!!! Yes stupid people make the world go round!
Angela
February 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Ok, she deserves the “idiot of the year” award. How stupid can you be?
Sam
February 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
Anyone who pays that much for an itoy is stupid. Most overhyped junk on the planet. Amazing how many suckers there are in this country.
The victim from Lilburn
February 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Hey, stop making fun of me. Who wouldn’t be tempted by discounted ipads? How many of you can trulely say you would turn down a chance at half price ipads?
Snake Oil For Sale
February 3rd, 2012
3:28 pm
Does she still any money left? I got some undeveloped land about 200 miles east of Savannah she can have for cheap!!!! It’s overstocked land.
Allison
February 3rd, 2012
3:30 pm
This was stupid of her to do…but let me tell you…if two guys walked up to me while I was pumping gas, I would tell them to get the “bleep” away from me! I would never talk to strange me at the gas station! Weirdos and thieves and rapist oh my!
Allison
February 3rd, 2012
3:31 pm
I meant strange men….and I guess I should include strange women too.
The victim from Lilburn
February 3rd, 2012
3:31 pm
And if it makes you fell any better, that was grocery money for 2 weeks
In case you missed these lessons while growing up...
February 3rd, 2012
3:32 pm
Don’t purchase ANYTHING out of the truck of somebody’s car.
Don’t FOLLOW strangers to the trunk of their car.
Don’t TALK to strangers.
De'Andre
February 3rd, 2012
3:33 pm
How she going to get her weave done now with no money?
Really???
February 3rd, 2012
3:35 pm
A sucker born every day.
moonbat betty
February 3rd, 2012
3:36 pm
Stupidity and Greed don’t mix well.
And then to go to the News with your story!
Humanity never ceases to disappoint.
martinshort
February 3rd, 2012
3:38 pm
you cant blame this one on whitey
#1 Falcon Fan
February 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Ok c’mon currently I am looking for wheels for my dually Dodge 350 and to be honest I wouldnt care if they were legit wheels or not, if someone was standing on the side of the road and offerred me 6 black/chrome wheels for $500 I would jump in a heartbeat. I understand everyone taking advantage of saying how stupid this was, and I am sure you dont need to say that as “victim” already feels pretty low, but I bet you a months pay that I could talk any of you into this deal on the iPads and laptop, there are some very convincing thieves out there. Sprry for your financial loss….but to try and turn a neg into a pos just learn from your mistake and try to save it from happenning to anyone else….which youve taken a great step in accomplishing by getting this story in the paper. Thanks for this!
Al Sharpton
February 3rd, 2012
3:44 pm
What’s wrong wich u people? Them boyz wanted jus make some xtra cash, and have easier life, like bros Eddie, Hosea, etc. Ain’t nothin’ wrong w/xtra cash.
Bank Examiner
February 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
I need their help solving a case of a bank employee suspected of illegal transactions.
Speak for yourself #1 Falcon Fan...
February 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
The only thing I bought from a street hustle was a box of Girl Scout cookies from a GIRL SCOUT. Unless you’re selling Girl Scout cookies and are 3 ft. tall with pony tails, you’d have NOTHING to say that I’d listen to!
jarvis
February 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
A fool and her money are soon parted.
JaysWife
February 3rd, 2012
3:50 pm
@The Victim from Lilburn, u made it easy for people to make fun of you. Sure, anyone would jump at a deal like that, but you should have at least make them take it out of the package and show you that it works. You are supposed to do your inspection for evening letting them know you have the cash! So you got your money taken, I guess a lesson learned for you. BTW: you went to the police, what you did is a felony, theft by receiving, so if it was really a laptop and iPads, you would have committed a crime.
Servesyouright
February 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
@thevictim: so what were you doing spending 2 weeks of grocery money on ipads and laptops?
Matt
February 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
Here’s your sign.
collegedude
February 3rd, 2012
3:52 pm
LOL…Somebody call Bill Engvall. I love stupid people, they’re funny.
Concerned CItizen
February 3rd, 2012
3:53 pm
It seems to me, she should — they should be grateful. This story could be worse than being out of pocket of $500 she could have been grabbed and forced into the same truck with the “Ipads”… wasnt she never told not to talk to strangers. Really.!!!
Ron White
February 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
You can’t fix stupid.
Sal
February 3rd, 2012
3:54 pm
I think you are all being a little too harsh on the woman. Have none of you ever fallen or almost fallen for something that sounded to good to be true? Granted I would not buy anything out of the back trunk of anyone’s car. however give her a break. I hope she learned an important lesson.
That's what's wrong with the country today, Sal...
February 3rd, 2012
3:59 pm
Too many people being unwilling to call out stupid behavior. Common sense is not so common these days… She’ll be the wiser for it all.
WTF
February 3rd, 2012
4:02 pm
Life is like a box of chocolates.
WTF
February 3rd, 2012
4:04 pm
Maybe she should have bought the extended warranty, then she could take it to Best Buys to get repaired.
A. E.
February 3rd, 2012
4:05 pm
@ Andrew…who said they were stolen? LEARN TO READ AND INTERPRET STUPID….don’t ASS-ume
Dodge350
February 3rd, 2012
4:11 pm
Hey #1 Falcon Fan currently Ironically I’m trying to sell wheels for a dually Dodge 350 and if you buy today, I’ll throw in an IPAD.
gordon24
February 3rd, 2012
4:11 pm
Don’t feel sorry for anybody who falls for something that STUPID.
William Ferris
February 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
If you are approached by someone offering to sell you two ipads and a laptop computer for $500. you have to assume that they are stolen. End result is “I didn’t get my stolen items”…
Victim? Ha
February 3rd, 2012
4:17 pm
Victim? Please.
4xtra
February 3rd, 2012
4:21 pm
I hate to say this but these people WILLINGLY gave these clown their money.
THIS IS NOT A ROBBERY
The “victims” knew it could be stolen and they got what they deserved.
I cannot believe people are going for this scam.
Dont feel sorry for these “victims”
Dontbestupid
February 3rd, 2012
4:23 pm
I mean really how stupid can you be? Not to mention half-criminals themselves if they actually believe the crooks were BB employees selling three items of electronics at those insane prices.
Even crooks stealing from a retail store they work at would want more money than that if they were fencing actual product.
Charles H
February 3rd, 2012
4:25 pm
And these people are allowed to VOTE!
Leeba
February 3rd, 2012
4:25 pm
I agree what was she doing buying “ipads” with her grocery money? Even if they were real what would her family have eaten for two weeks?
The Government
February 3rd, 2012
4:27 pm
What are all you idiots laughing at. That was YOUR tax dollars she handed over to the crooks. Guess I’ll just have to tax you more. Thanks, Obama!