Pretty pleeeease!
Beware of Con Artists in Hoboken!
09
May
5/8/2008:
I’ve heard of a couple little rackets taking place in Hoboken lately (not at city hall, either).
Cablevision scammer
This one has been popping up as of late on the Live Hoboken Police and Fire Scanner. A man rings your bell, or gains access to your building claiming either to be Cablevision salesman or repair person.
I can’t recall whether he asks for money, or some kind of identification, or even tries to burglarize your home if he gains entrance. But several callers to HPD have advised them of the situation and haven’t let him in. Often later at night, too (like 9pm and beyond.) So be on the lookout!
The Modell’s beggar
This guy doesn’t appear as dangerous, and only asks people for money on the street.
The scam: This genius finds a Modell’s Sports ID tag that an employee would normally have on his neck. He approaches you on the street, and says his car ran out of gas, and he has only $0.xx change to his name. “Can you help me get some gas?”
He approached me uptown, and I had heard of this scam already. I asked him where his car was, and does he have a gas can… he stumbled, mumbled and pointed in some direction far away and I said “you’re pulling this stunt all over town” and he ran off…
Does him wearing a Modell’s Sports ID automatically give him credibility?
Hoboken, con artists, scam artists, cablevision, modells
1. boston1 | May 9th, 2008 at 8:57 am
There may be a cablevision scam going around, i don’t know, but the other night i came home around 7 and there was a Cablevision sales rep in the hallway of the 2nd floor talking to my neighbor in her doorway(who i guess buzzed him in) about signing up for service. He was definately legit. Had the brochures, was in a suit, etc. He asked if he could speak to me and i said no, and that was that.
2. bornandrazedinhobo | May 9th, 2008 at 9:29 am
boston1 wrote:
Just because the guy had brochures and was in a suit does not mean he was legit, many of the scammers do carry real documents they aquire and wear a suit because the majority of people believe that a person in a suit will not do harm to you or is honest.
Real cablevision sales reps don’t go door to door unless they are called to the location on a customer service call. Usually everything is done online or through a phone call.
If you see somthing like this try to get a photo and any make or plate of the vehicle these scammers drive if any. It may help catch them after they commit a crime. By no means never let them into your building or home. If they are expected they will be let in by the customer.
3. Colonblow | May 9th, 2008 at 9:35 am
This reminds me that I had a message on my answering machine the other day. The person said they were from Cablevision and was outside my door. He said he wanted to talk to me about my service. I didn’t think much of it except that it was weird that they had physically come to my home to talk to me. I wonder if this was a scam.
4. Sidd Finch | May 9th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I met the Modells guy as my wife and I were coming out of Court Street. It striked me as very odd the first thing he claimed was he worked at a Modells. There isn’t a Modells in Hoboken!!! I think scammer and criminals are always trying to find someone dumber than them
5. boston1 | May 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am
bornandrazedinhobo wrote:
You could totally be right, but the guy knew my name and new that I only had internet service and not cable and wanted to sign me up for the cable and phone. Maybe this is some elaborate scheme to get your credit card #. No clue. However, I would have NEVER have let him into the building if he buzzed, my stupid-ass neighbor did.
6. homeworld | May 9th, 2008 at 10:34 am
If you work at Modells and your car ran out of gas in Hoboken, can’t you walk the 1/2 mile to Modells? Or at least take the light rail. What a stupid scam.
7. devilgirl | May 9th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Earlier this week, I was on my way out and saw a black man in a suit with a clipboard talking with my neighbor. It was definitely something about cable from what I heard as I walked by. As I left I thought maybe I should stick around or find out what was going on. The whole scene made me feel uncomfortable. I can’t remember when I last saw a door to door salesman. I returned quickly and saw the man at the building next door ringing bells. Don’t know if he was legit, but I would’ve never let him in.
8. bornandrazedinhobo | May 9th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Much of that information can be obtained through public records and online using any number of free internet services. Once you get an address, you can see who resides there and if a phone number is provided other search engines can show that you only have one type of cable service or another, etc.
The same info can be obtained if your mail is stolen or tampered with. Many of these scammers do their homework before they hit a place. I’ve seen guys cut cable lines or phone lines attached to homes to gain access and make the entry look more legit.
9. el norte | May 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Next time I see the Modell’s guy I’m going to offer him a ride to the store. And there is a huge cable scam going on in Hoboken. $70 a month for basic.
10. KB | May 9th, 2008 at 11:43 am
devilgirl wrote:
I know Time Warner still has a door-to-door cable sales force, as my brother is one of them.
11. goldsoundz | May 9th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I heard this guy talking to somebody from my apartment in front of the building the other day. I thought it was odd that cablevision was now sending door to door salesman. My first thought was that this guy was a scam but like the above post he seemed to be from cablevision. I know they have this big push going on to sign up for triple play. I received 5 calls in one day which prompted me to get on their do not call list. Then they still called again even after I said I was not interested and put myself on their no call list. This may be a scam but i can tell cablevision really wants you to sign up for their Triple Play Package. They will stop at no expense to help you save money.
12. HomeTeam | May 9th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I had the Cablevision people at my door the other night. One woman and one male. She had my start date, end date or promotional stuff and left her card. I complained that I never receive my bill and today I received an email from Cablevision noting that my customer service complaint had been recieved and my last two bills were being mailed.
Who knows…I don’t have anything to steal other than a couple of instruments.
13. boken-a | May 9th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Last Saturday morning a guy rang my bell, claiming to be an Optimum Online rep. First of all, it was a Saturday. Second : We already have Optimum.
I didn’t buzz him in. I don’t want to act like a nervous old lady , but I figure it pays to be a bit cautious. It can really ruin a Saturday morning getting handcuffed to a heating pipe and watching your flat screen TV walk out the front door
14. rchoboken08 | May 10th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I was approached by a heavy set gentleman telling me he was from Paramus and he had a tire blow out and needed to borrow $40 , he said he would give me all of his info and send me the $..this was right in front of CVS on washington..I said I would help him out and asked for his drivers liscense to write his info down…he said he didnt have it on him, so I than offered to go with him and see if we could fix the tire or get a spare, he said it was too far out of the way?? I than said sorry and walked on….2 days later he was at the cab stand by the p[ath doing the same thing…He is in his 50’s,white,and heavy set..almost looks like Bam Margera Unle Vito without the screwed up eyes…but just a heads up
15. YipYap | May 10th, 2008 at 10:44 am
No cellphone pics of these scammers? Cumon people stop slacking.
16. ShhhDontTell | May 10th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Thursday night as I was walking past Muller Insurance, this older guy in a beige trenchcoat stopped me. He wanted to tell me his story. So I said…yeah, sure. He said he was just let out from St. Mary Hospital (except he was heading south on 9th and Wash). His friend was going to pick him up and take him home. But his friend never showed, so he needs to catch a cab but has no money. I had no money, but I offered him a smoke.
He was wearing hot pink lipstick smeared around his mouth. I’m wondering if he even knew it was still there. His coat was very stained and “lived in”. But I did notice he had an expensive gold chain and medallion around his neck, and he was wearing a thick gold bracelet. Both we real. Trust me, I can tell.
He thanked me for the smoke, asked me my name, thanked me again….and was on his way.
I really do wish I had my camera on me. I’m sure he would’ve agreed to have his picture taken. He was weird, but somehow normal.
17. bornandrazedinhobo | May 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Keep stopping for these guys and let your guard down and one will attack and rob you or worse. I’ve seen it happen many times in Hoboken.
BTW many of these bums and scammers are not alone, usually there is at least another near by and they work in teams. One will stop you and when the chance rises up the other will attack. Once you stop to chat, you are already lured in and can become a victim fast.
Call the police and tell them there is a strange guy bothering people and give the description and local…they will investigate and deal with the problem.
Another place to be aware of is the A&P and Shop Rite parking lots especially at night. I had to deal with a violent drunk bum in the A&P lot about 9:30pm a week ago. I was outside waiting for someone when this bedbug started bothering people that were entering and exiting the store. He would ask for money and when not given any he would confront the non-giver eventually leading up to him grabbing a woman by the arm entering the store. She screamed and I dealt with the guy followed by the store manager…he will not be in the A&P lot again anytime soon that is for sure!
18. MidnightRacer | May 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Sidd Finch wrote:
There’s Modells between the Newport Mall and Target, right by Staples.
I had a scam attempted on me about 5 years ago. I was walking along Washington St past Dunkin Donuts Friday after work and some girl came up to me and started a conversation. After some small talk that this was the first time she’s ever been to Hoboken, she told me she drove her car here all the way from Tom’s River because she was meeting some guy here for a date - but he stood her up, says that she’s scared being all by herself in an unfamliar town and doesn’t have enough gas to make it back home. She then asked if I could give her some gas money to make it back to Tom’s River. Of course I was suspicious, but just in case she was stranded, I wanted to help. So I told her to drive her car to the BP gas station, and I would walk up there myself to pay the station to fill up her tank. She said, I don’t want you to walk that far so she’ll just take whatever I can give her. So I gave her one last chance, and told her if she really needed the gas, to meet me there.
So I was walking up and walked passed this car at the traffic light, It was the girl ina green American make of car. But there was also a male passenger in the car with her. In the rear seat were bags full of clothes, some spilling over the top. So, we have some lies here. I was only a couple of blocks away from the BP and 1 block before, she let the guy out of the car, he waited on the corner, and she pulled into the BP gas station.
Smelling a set up, I walked home.