Yeah, They got me too, bigtime. Although this guy was good, smooth and polished, I feel like such an idiot to fall for this scam. I've got the same story as most of you here. The only difference is in the initial approach. This guy Salvatore (or whatever is fake name was) pulls up next to me in a gray BMW while I'm waiting at a red light on Third Ave and 43rd Street in Manhattan, NY. His opening line was, "Hey, you look like a smart businessman." I should've known it was a scam right then, cause I was wearing a warmup suit and a baseball cap turned backwards.
Anyway, he gives me the line about flying back to Italy in a couple of hours and having to unload these expensive leather jackets which were leftovers from Fashion Week. Every line thereafter was perfectly rehearsed and refined. Salvatore talked me into pulling over to the curb and checking out his jackets. Unbelievable, what an idiot I was.
He gave me his card, walked me to his car and showed me 8 jackets. The jackets looked great, smelled great and his timing in introducing the old cigarette lighter trick was impeccable. He said it was the international way of determining real leather. I still can't believe I was so gullible and such a helpless knucklehead. For each jacket he showed, he quoted a reatail price between $700 and $1,000.00. He then said he would sell me all 8 jackets for $1,000. Of course, he had to sell them then cause he had to make his flight.
I at least had the sense to say, "No way your nuts, you'll be lucky to get half that." He then took all 8 jackets out of his car and put them in my car. This guy could of won an Academy Award with his performance. Before I knew it, I had yanked $500.00 out of an ATM for the 8 jackets sitting comfortably in my car.
To make matters worst, as I left the ATM with money in hand, I see Salvatore trying to convince a NY metermaid not to give me (not him) a parking ticket. To this day, if I could kick myself in the rear end I most certainly would. Salvatore taught me how much of a fool I can be, hopefully he taught me well. Now, what am I going to doing with 8 fake leather jackets and none of them are even my size?
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