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  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 2, 2025 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: parking lot scam, , three card monte   

    Rigged Card Game Targets Shoppers 

    Rigged Card Game Targets Shoppers

    By Greg Collier

    A scam as old as street crime itself has resurfaced in Greensboro, North Carolina — and it’s costing residents thousands of dollars.

    Police are warning the public about individuals setting up illegal card games, particularly Three Card Monte, in parking lots near shopping centers. These operations are not just a nuisance — they are deliberate, well-coordinated scams designed to defraud participants of large sums of money.

    While this con may seem like a relic of the past, many people are unfamiliar with it and unaware of how it works. That unfamiliarity is what scammers rely on.

    Three Card Monte is not a legitimate game of chance. It’s a confidence trick in which a dealer displays three playing cards, usually two black cards and one red, and quickly shuffles them around. The player is then asked to identify the red card.

    At first glance, it may appear winnable. In reality, the game is carefully rigged. The scammer uses sleight of hand to switch or hide the red card during the shuffle. The operation often involves accomplices posing as bystanders or other players, who pretend to win or encourage participation to create a false sense of fairness and excitement.

    Once a victim bets real money, the deception becomes clear, but by then, it’s too late.

    Police in Greensboro have documented multiple cases of people losing significant amounts of money, from $1,500 to as much as $8,000, in just a few moments. What makes matters worse is that participation itself is illegal, regardless of whether a person wins or loses. It is considered unlawful gambling, and law enforcement has made it clear that individuals caught playing may face legal consequences.

    In addition to potential charges, authorities have warned that money seized during these operations is unlikely to be recovered, even by those who were victimized.

    Three Card Monte has a long history, dating back to Europe in the 1400s and flourishing in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries. It was common in crowded city centers, train stations, and sidewalks, and it continues today in areas where foot traffic and distractions make people more vulnerable

    Despite its age, the scam remains effective precisely because it feels spontaneous and low-risk. In reality, it is a carefully planned fraud that depends on a victim’s lack of familiarity and the illusion of a fair game.

    Law enforcement emphasizes that not all scams arrive via phone call, text, or email. Some unfold in broad daylight, in seemingly harmless environments. Residents should remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

    If someone invites you to gamble on a street card game, remember, it is not entertainment, it is a setup. These games are illegal, deceptive, and costly, both financially and legally.

    The best way to protect yourself is to walk away.

     
  • Geebo 8:00 am on July 17, 2019 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , parking lot scam, , , , theme parks,   

    This scam takes advantage of Prime Day purchases! 

    This scam takes advantage of Prime Day!

    As we mentioned yesterday, Amazon just had its annual Prime Day sale. If you decided to take advantage of the deals to be had online you should be aware of a particular scam that looks to take advantage of all the orders made on Prime Day. It’s called brushing and some retailers will send you a product of their’s unsolicited and at no charge to you. They’re looking for favorable online reviews and even if sent to you free of charge, the vendor can consider you a ‘verified purchase’ on Amazon. The main problem with brushing scams is that someone may have purchased these items on yours on someone else’s stolen account.

    In other scam news, reports are coming out of Northern California about a parking lot scam designed to pressure you into giving a stranger money. Several residents have complained about a scam where someone walks behind your car in a parking lot as you try to pull out. The scammer will drop their phone then act like it’s broken, or more than likely they’ll have dropped an already broken phone. They’ll then try to claim it was your fault and try to get you to give them money for their phone’s insurance deductible. If this scam happens to you, it’s recommended that you call the police.

    While this next scam happens all year round with places like Disney World, it picks up in the summer months due to other regional theme parks being open for the season. If you see a post on social media promising you free tickets to a theme park or other attraction it is more than likely a scam. This happened recently in the Sandusky, Ohio area where the popular Cedar Point theme park is. This scam is intended to get either your personal or financial information which the scammers will say is necessary in order to get the tickets. They could even ask for a processing fee. In the end, the scammers end up with your information and possibly your money and you’re left with nothing.

     
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