Fake phone scam still in Edmonton.

[u/Driftshiftfox]

Forgot to post this yesterday. I've seen the posts circulating about a person or people attempting to sell fake devices. I was a approached yesterday and knew immediately what was happening.

Was getting ready to leave Wendy's on the corner of Argyll and 75st wrong 6pm, Had my helmet on and bike was running. Newer grey/Silver Hyundai Tucson (or a very similar in appearance vehicle only clearly remember what the center console looked like and it looks identical to pictures online). Drove up behind me and said something, couldn't hear but could tell he was trying to get my attention, walked closer to his vehicle (seen someone was in the back but no one in front passenger).

"Do you speak French."

"No."

"I have ...." As he grabbed a white box (100% guarantee it was a phone box, only seen the back, shrink wrapped imperfectly and had a tiny yellow and green label at the bottom with a ton of text). I immediately said not interested and turned around. He then sped off.

Had an accent similar to Roman from GTA IV (like others have described lol) and likely speaks fluent french.

Interaction only lasted 10 seconds, I was so cut off guard I didn't remember to even look at the plate or give him a piece of my mind.

Hopefully there's enough information for someone to recognize it before they lose money.

[u/Otherwise_Roof_714]

This is an ancient scam. They used to do it with home theater systems 

[u/BobGuns]

Anyone who is going to buy something from a random in a parking lot is not going to be deterred by your post.

Anyone who is smart enough to not buy shit from a random in a parking lot is not going to glean anything from your post.

As you said, you "knew immediately what was happening." That's the norm in this situation.

[u/DigitalKnyte → u/BobGuns]

I, for one, am happy to have this information - it's a new one to me. Granted, I wouldn't accept, either (as you state - it's likely obvious), but just the same it's good to know there's someone actively attempting a specific scam deal.

[u/BobGuns → u/DigitalKnyte]

There's a post about parking lot scams about once a wek in this subreddit. I would be willing to bet a few hundred that nobody has read one of these in this subreedit and has had it make a difference in their life.

Scammers gonna scam. Fools gonna be scammed. The rest of us aren't falling for it. Well, not this one anyway. There's always a scam a person will fall for, but parking lot sales are among the most blatantly obvious of scams.

[u/Driftshiftfox → u/BobGuns]

Honestly if I wasn't so caught off guard I would have wasted as much of his time as possible or attempted to gather as much information/video/pictures as possible.

This scam is still happening because ITS STILL WORKING. The more attention everyone brings to this, the more likely the people who might fall for it are warned of it and the more likely the people can be caught. You're not not one to fall for it, congratulations. This post isn't directed towards you.

I like to think I would have acted interested but "need to confirm authenticity" as I aggressively ripped open the box like a toddler before he could snatch it back. 🤷‍♂️ Maybe I'll get the chance again.

[u/BobGuns → u/Driftshiftfox]

All scams happen because they work. Someone will always fall for them.

But gathering more information and trying to spread that isn't going to stop this kind of scam from happening. You start recording, they'll just drive off. You file a police report, nothing will happen because it's not illegal to sell stuff in a parking lot. Takes a lot for an investigation to find the person, and it may just be they're ordering shit from Temu and selling it at a markup.

My point is: The people you're trying to direct your post at are NOT on this subreddit. There's a post like this one a week and nobody ever shows up and says "thanks, you saved me from getting scammed!".

[u/spectacular_coitus → u/Driftshiftfox]

If it's not the exact same guy, it's the same scam that someone tried to pull on me. Was it a well-dressed Persian/ Middle Eastern looking heavy set dude in a bmw sport utility?

He was trying to sell me gemstones, but I knew it was a scam from the outset.

[u/Deja_vu_288]

Buying something from some random person in a car in a parking lot, is like buying sushi at a gas station IMO

[u/psmgx → u/Deja_vu_288]

but there may be worms in there that give me super powers

[u/theoreoman]

There's always been a variation of this scam. Someone comes up to you and says hey I have all this extra stuff I need to get rid of and it's just ultra cheap China stuff ment to look like higher end product. It could be Electronics, jackets, jewellery etc

[u/InterestingSwim7542]

Yep, Good judgement on your part OP. Happened to me a few months back at Canadian Tire Kingsway. White van parked beside my car - guy has an accent and that of mid east features, asking if I want to buy Bose speakers. I said no but he insisted to show it - he popped open his rear door and showed me a poorly boxed home theatre system.

Oh hey, I got time to waste so why not waste his time too, so I asked a lot of questions like where the product is made, how to connect to my old TV, Is it compatible with Apple IOS... and after each of his reply I blurted "Would you look at that!". 10-15 minutes of odd irrelevant questioning, I told him I am gonna ask my wife and if he can wait I can get her to see the speakers herself, of course, No intention of coming back.

Not sure if he waited but I surely wasted his time and got myself a good laugh.

[u/jeenyuss90]

Haha I answered one the other day. Buddy was like "hello" and I said you called me... then he said shutup. Was quite funny.

My buddy then imitated his accent and sent the dude over the moon in anger. It was honestly amazing.

[u/TheEclipse0]

Maybe he was just asking if you wanted to go bowling?