Victim Location 10018
Total money lost $701.44
Type of a scam Credit Cards
Purchase of products:
Item 1 – Smartphone – Model Moto Z 2 Play (01 unit) – Unit price US $ 350,00
Item 2 – Apple Watch – Model Series 2 (01 unit) – Unit price US $ 200.00
Item 03 – Micro SD Card – Micro SDXC 64 GB model (02 units) – Unit value US $ 20.00
Item 04 – Cell Phone Screen Protectors (03 units) – Unit price US $ 5.00
Total Purchase Value: US $ 605.00
Discount: US $ 15.00
Final Purchase Value: US $ 590.00
Occurrence description:
After choosing the products in the store and negotiating on the amounts, the seller made the registration with information of my passport and my credit card data, payment was made with the Visa credit card. However, after the issuance of paper vouchers by the carton machine, the seller swiped the buyer’s paper path and did not allow me to check the amount posted.
I considered this type of attitude strange and requested the delivery of the proof. The seller declined to deliver the voucher, so I took the paper voucher (via the seller) over the counter. At this time, I noticed that the amount posted was $ 1,306.44. I questioned the difference between the amount posted and the final value of the purchase.
The seller, a guy said that his store was an authorized reseller of the "T-Mobile" phone company and explained that the difference was a warranty from the T-Mobile company that the smartphone and the Apple watch would not be used / enabled at the AT & T phone company. Said I could not use the AT & T chip on the purchased smartphone. I considered this type of situation inappropriate, so I requested a refund of the amount paid with the credit card. At this point, the seller informed me that it would not be possible to make the chargeback. I insisted that he take the chargeback, he was rude and said he would not make the chargeback.
I felt that my physical integrity was at risk inside the store, I retired with the products purchased mentioned above.
Upon arriving at the hotel I was staying in New York, I searched the internet and found several reports of similar blows applied in the same store by the two vendors involved in this occurrence. On 10/31/2017, early in the morning, I requested the cancellation of my credit card with my account manager.
Victim Location 21114
Total money lost $394.81
Type of a scam Credit Cards
I arrived in New York on July 14th, 2017 and went into a Sprint store asking to purchase a SIM card. A female Sprint employee told me that they do not offer SIM cards and said she can refer me to another store. She gave me her business card and told me to give it to the store employee when I get there. The store sign said "Unlocked Wireless". When I walked in and explained that I needed a SIM card for 1 day, the employee wrote down the price for the different SIM cards which depended on the amount of data. 1Gig of data cost $10USD and 2Gig cost $20USD. I chose 2 gigs. Then he asks for my ID and a bank card. I gave it to him, then he brings a receipt showing a list of charges and explained that I will see a hold on my account for $414.81USD but I would only be charged $20USD. He explained to me that I was paying for new phone service and that the service included a new iphone. He said that I had to remove the SIM card break it in half and dispose of it before 11:59pm on July 15th (the next day) for the hold to drop and if I did not do as instructed and leave the SIM card in the company would think that I wanted to keep service and actually charge me $414.81 instead of $20. I did everything he instructed and removed my SIM card an broke it by 11:30pm. Today I noticed that the processing hold was charged to my card. I tried to contact the number on their receipt and noticed the receipt has the company name listed as "Electronics" and furthermore, the number has the note "Whatsapp only" next to it. I messaged them on whatsapp and my messages are being sent but not showing as received by the phone (probably because it is off). I googled the company and noticed numerous complaints online about fraudulent charges and people having the same experience as me and never getting their money back.
Victim Location 10018
Total money lost $600
Type of a scam Credit Cards
My family and I went to by some iPhones and iPads in this store, located in Midtown Manhattan, and we were charged with over 600USD extra in each credit card (we are a family of 5, so they took at least 3000USD from us) Besides, one of the phones was clearly preowned, and not only we were told that they were new, but they were also given to us in closed boxes.
I also found a lot of people on the internet who have also been victims of this group, and they are from all over the world.
We contacted a police officer from NYPD, Peter Rogers, and he told us that these people are known for this type of fraud with credit cards, and recommended that we report the scam with the BBB.
We are now challenging our credit card company to have our money back, because there is no way we are paying that extra amount of money to thieves.
Victim Location 10018
Total money lost $458
Type of a scam Other
I bought a sim card here for $10 cash and they said they needed to charge a deposit to my card for $458.30 but that it was only a deposit and wouldn’t be taken out of my bank account unless i used the sim card after 60 days. I immediately checked my account and saw i had been charged the full amount and demanded a refund, they gave me one on the same card but said it would take 30 days to come through. It never came through and now they wont answer the phone when i call and i have seen online that there are MULTIPLE many people with the exact same issue happening to them. These people are swindling travellers non stop out of hundreds at a time and must be stopped please help