My projector burned out. Decided to buy a new one. Not quite ready to shell out for a brand-new 3LCD, so I’m looking for a used one. Found one option. Suggested meeting up – but it’s already 10 PM. The guy agrees, gives the address. I check the address – it’s a normal townhouse in a decent area. Heading there. It’s about a half-hour drive to Maryland.
On the way, I receive a message from him. “Basically, you pay, and I’ll leave the projector in the garage, you come in and take it. To maintain social distancing.”
I write back saying, buddy, I’m definitely not paying for a pig in a poke. He replies, no problem, I’ll show you via video right now that it works. And he sends a video. Everything looks good in the video.
I say, what’s the deal, come out to the garage, connect it there, I’ll stand way back from the street. It’s a projector, I can see it working. Then you disconnect it, bring it out, I verify that it’s in good shape (even though it’s already off by that point), and I transfer money on PayPal, and take the box.
No, he says, I’m really worried about the virus, and my wife is too. Can’t come out. So, I can show it to you through the window that it works and shine it on the driveway in front of the house.
He did. It works.
Doesn’t want to bring it out, says that he has had bad experiences, and he wants the money upfront.
Had to tell him goodbye and leave.
I can’t figure out if this is a scam or if the guy is really that paranoid about COVID? Technically, he couldn’t trick and not hand over the device—I would just immediately call the police to his house, show the chat, the money transfer, and the house of the owner refusing to bring out a projector. The police might not be much help, but the prospect of dealing with the police is clearly unwanted—if he wanted to deceive, he wouldn’t have met at his own home. He could bring out a different device that doesn’t work but looks exactly the same—yes, that’s possible. Actually, I couldn’t dismiss this thought, so I left. On the other hand, this guy has an open Facebook account with family photos, which he has maintained for a long time.
First time facing this in the States. Usually, sales through platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Offerup, Craigslist operate quite smoothly here.
