Is this particular scam considered illegal?

Question

The scam where someone in a van drives up to you in public and tries to sell you speakers.

He says something like, "The supplier sent me too many and I need to unload them quickly before [a certain deadline]. I just sold one to a guy for $700 but I'll sell them to you for $500"

Asumming the speakers are legitimate (correctly working, purchased legally, etc), is there ANYTHING illegal about this? And when I say "illegal" I mean other than the usual tresspassing, permits, etc. I'm talking strictly illegal about creating all those claims about the product?

Let me rephrase, is it illegal to say, "Someone just offerred me $700 to purchase these"?..........when clearly this didn't happen.

is it illegal to say, "The supplier sent me too many and I need to unload them quick"?..........when clearly there is no supplier.


I'm asking if it's illegal to say these things if untrue.

I'm not asking about the legality of selling goods without a permit, etc. That I understand is illegal in itself.

Answer 1

The actual scam is that the speakers are junk. They say they cost $1000.00, but they are actually made for about 20.00.

Answer 2

Disregarding the obvious things you've exempted (not stolen, working, permits, etc.), it's not illegal to sell something for under cost, or to say that it cost a certain amount and you're getting a deal.

How many times have you seen a "going out of business" sale, when the company stays open? Or a company jacking up the retail price of something, then putting it on "sale"? Not illegal.

Caveat emptor.

Answer 3

Yes - they need a vendors license (at the very least) to sell anything, they need to collect and report taxes charged, etc. You worded it correctly, "scam" - and hon, no scam is legal, hence the word itself.

Answer 4

this has been going on for years the police are interested. if a deal sounds togood to true it is also you are not helping local firms,,