Today's most viewed
|
|
|
| |
DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK |
 | |
| | WHAT'S ON | | | | |
| | GOING GREEN | | |
| | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | | | | |
| | COMMENT AND ANALYSIS | | |
|
|
|
Computers with veggie bites not mega bytes
Criminals selling laptop computers are duping people by handing over bags of vegetables instead of the hi-tech machines.
Rather than the latest Packard-Bell or Compaq, unwitting victims out to get a good deal are ending up with potatoes and carrots as well as Argos catalogues, books and bottles of water.
According to Sussex Police, the scam is happening across the county with people being ripped off recently in Hove, Worthing, Chichester, Bognor, Pease Pottage and Hickstead.
Sgt Anna Gent said part of the charm of the con is that the 'laptops' were not being offered at knock-down prices but full retail value giving the impression the crook is a legitimate salesman.
She said: "It's prevalent across Sussex but whether it's happening across other forces I don't know.
"It seems to be the perfect scam. They are not selling them at cheap prices so people don't think they are knocked-off items and the potential purchase seems genuine.
"Persons are being approached in various different locations such as footpaths, car parks and car boot sales where they ask if a person would be interested in purchasing a laptop.
"If the answer is ëyesí then the prospective purchaser is being taken to a nearby vehicle where they are shown a computer.
"Usually the person has to go away to get some money and they come back and are handed a laptop bag.
"Once the cash is handed over, the vehicle is driven off and only then does the person open the bag and realise that they have not received the promised computer."
Instead of cheap prices for the computers, the criminals are offering between £600 and £900, which is a reasonable price for a mid-range computer.
Sgt Gent added: "People are falling for it, why? I don't know. It maybe that people are more prepared to buy at a car boot sale now rather than just at retail outlets.
"It's very easy to criticise and say who would buy a laptop after being approached by somebody but people do and think they've got a bargain."
She added that police are investigating scams like this by looking at any CCTV footage that might be available and by trying to trace the cars involved.
She said: "We are asking members of the public to be wary as it would be better to pay the same money for a reasonable deal at a recognised retail outlet for computers."
If anyone has any information on who may be responsible for the con, they can contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Have you been affected by a similar sting? What do you think of the con? Let us know by leaving your comments at theargus.co.uk/news
12:46pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Neil, Worthing on 1:31pm Wed 14 May 08
Oh really... The first rule of buying anything in a closed bag is to check it before you hand over the money. If people don't check what they've got, then more fool them quite frankly.
Oh really... The first rule of buying anything in a closed bag is to check it before you hand over the money. If people don't check what they've got, then more fool them quite frankly.
Posted by: Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square on 1:39pm Wed 14 May 08
These mugs must have blithely assumed that it was all right to be part of a criminal racket - goods of dodgy origin sold by a bloke with a car - but squawk when in fact it's they who turn out to be the victims. They could have got a far better deal through proper outlets.
These mugs must have blithely assumed that it was all right to be part of a criminal racket - goods of dodgy origin sold by a bloke with a car - but squawk when in fact it's they who turn out to be the victims. They could have got a far better deal through proper outlets.
Posted by: Puzzled John, Vegetable Box on 1:41pm Wed 14 May 08
How many times does this scam need to be reported before people stop falling for it? (and the Argus stops writing about it?) IIRC this must be about the third time this has been covered this year.
How many times does this scam need to be reported before people stop falling for it? (and the Argus stops writing about it?) IIRC this must be about the third time this has been covered this year.
Posted by: Bex, Brighton on 1:43pm Wed 14 May 08
This has been going on in Brighton for years and years. It amazes me that anyone is still stupid enough to fall for it. There's no way they think they're getting genuine goods. They assume its stolen and they don't care - a victimless crime, in my opinion.
This has been going on in Brighton for years and years. It amazes me that anyone is still stupid enough to fall for it. There's no way they think they're getting genuine goods. They assume its stolen and they don't care - a victimless crime, in my opinion.
Posted by: Tony Davenport, Brighton on 1:49pm Wed 14 May 08
This has been going on for YEARS. How dumb is Sussex?!
Also - if you buy electrical items from car boot sales, WRITE DOWN the registration number of the car. Also it's good to have a 3 point plug unit in your car, the type that connects to the cigarette - sorry - UTILITY socket. That way you can check it works there and then. If someone says they lost the plug, and so it is 'untested' IT MEANS IT DOESN'T WORK!
This has been going on for YEARS. How dumb is Sussex?!
Also - if you buy electrical items from car boot sales, WRITE DOWN the registration number of the car. Also it's good to have a 3 point plug unit in your car, the type that connects to the cigarette - sorry - UTILITY socket. That way you can check it works there and then. If someone says they lost the plug, and so it is 'untested' IT MEANS IT DOESN'T WORK!
Posted by: kk, Hove on 1:54pm Wed 14 May 08
Think anyone who reports being a victim of this should be charged for aiding and abetting criminal activity or placed in the stocks for being so stupid !
Think anyone who reports being a victim of this should be charged for aiding and abetting criminal activity or placed in the stocks for being so stupid !
Posted by: John, Cyberspace on 1:54pm Wed 14 May 08
"It's very easy to criticise"
Easy to mock too.
Ha ha ha ha! Morons!
"It's very easy to criticise"
Easy to mock too.
Ha ha ha ha! Morons!
Posted by: Proof Reader, Hove on 2:18pm Wed 14 May 08
"If the answer is ëyesí then the prospective purchaser is being taken to a nearby vehicle where they are shown a computer."
Oh ëyesí, oh ëyesí.
"If the answer is ëyesí then the prospective purchaser is being taken to a nearby vehicle where they are shown a computer."
Oh ëyesí, oh ëyesí.
Posted by: Legs11, Brighton on 2:27pm Wed 14 May 08
Sounds like the same scam as the back of a white van hi-fi speaker con hat was around a few moons ago! I have no sympathy since the same people that got "conned" will almost certainly have other stolen goods in their houses that do work! some might come from thefts of my friends houses.
Sounds like the same scam as the back of a white van hi-fi speaker con hat was around a few moons ago! I have no sympathy since the same people that got "conned" will almost certainly have other stolen goods in their houses that do work! some might come from thefts of my friends houses.
Posted by: No, Way on 3:03pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote][bold]Bex[/bold] wrote:
This has been going on in Brighton for years and years. It amazes me that anyone is still stupid enough to fall for it. There's no way they think they're getting genuine goods. They assume its stolen and they don't care - a victimless crime, in my opinion.[/quote] Not just Brighton.
Reading is worse. I used to see stock from MY old shop being sold on the streets IN FRONT OF ME! Someone once tried to sell me 10 DVDs which still had my store's price tag on!
Seriously, if you're stupid enough to fall for this scam, then you don't deserve the money you had to start with.
Idiots.
Bex wrote:
This has been going on in Brighton for years and years. It amazes me that anyone is still stupid enough to fall for it. There's no way they think they're getting genuine goods. They assume its stolen and they don't care - a victimless crime, in my opinion.
Not just Brighton.
Reading is worse. I used to see stock from MY old shop being sold on the streets IN FRONT OF ME! Someone once tried to sell me 10 DVDs which still had my store's price tag on!
Seriously, if you're stupid enough to fall for this scam, then you don't deserve the money you had to start with.
Idiots.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
