Freak Magnet Dave

Last night as I was returning my rental car, I stopped at a gas station at a very busy intersection to top up the tank. A few guys pulled up in a Hummer and I heard the driver casually say to one of his friends, "I don't know, I'll ask."

"Excuse me," he said.
I was thinking, 'please don't ask me for directions, I don't know the area.'
"Yes," I replied.
"Are you interested in a surround sound system?"
I looked at the guy with an 'are you really that stupid to think I'd fall for that' look.
"It's an awesome system."
"No, I'm good, thanks."
"We can make a really great deal for you."
I put the nozzle back into the pump, turned to the guys and said, "I may have been born in the morning, but it wasn't this morning."

With that they drove off looking for their next mark.
A blond girl filling her VW Bug at another pump was looking at me with a quizical look, wondering what was going on.
"Trying to sell me a hot surround sound system."
"Ahhhh."
"Either hot merchandise, or empty speaker boxes, you know how it is."
"Scammers are everywhere. I'm sure they'll get someone to fall for it."
"Sadly, I think you're right."

Had I thought about it at the time, I should have taken their license number and called the police. As I pulled out of the gas station, I saw their Hummer in the oncoming lane, looking for a fool willing to part with his money. Unfortunately, I wasn't in a position to turn around and get their plate number. I hope someone does.

Let this be a lesson to everyone out there to beware of this scam. I've heard about it many years ago. Some sucker hands over a few hundred bucks and gets nice wooden speaker boxes with crappy little Radio Shack speakers, if any at all. Or a receiver box with a few bricks and newspaper stuffed in so the bricks don't slide around.

Sad. Just sad.