You’ll find out about a so-called “white van speaker scam” sooner than you think. (Image: Kuzmick, ronstik, ArtFamily – adobe.stock.com)
A Reddit user asks the home theater community for advice: He discovered a TV from a brand he didn’t know on Facebook Marketplace that he couldn’t find anything about on Google. At first glance, it seems like an incredible bargain: an 8K TV with an OLED display and a 60-inch screen diagonal for under $3,000.
Fortunately, he asks: “What the hell is that?” And as is often the case, the commentators are skeptical and offer advice. This is how a user answers him:
I think it’s a soundbase and satellite speaker with extremely questionable marketing. Looks like it should be sold out of a windowless van.
Link to Reddit content
Commenter theloslonelyjoe then sums it up with “Welcome to the revised White Van Speaker Scam.”
So the consensus is clear: The TV is by no means a bargain, but a scam.
What is the White Van Speaker Scam?
The name already implies it: the scam can be traced back to white vans. In the USA in the 1980s, dubious deals were made from these windowless vehicles, primarily with loudspeakers.
The supposed businessmen have cheap goods in their carts that cannot be sold through normal sales channels, but they advertise them as the ultimate – of course with a particularly pompous backstory or made-up facts.
In another Reddit-Thread from a year ago, a victim of the scam describes his experiences – interestingly, he was duped with the same devices that the original poster used to seek help.
The victim was shown the speakers and was even allowed to touch them. According to him, they were heavy, which certainly speaks for quality. At home, the user noticed: There were tubes of cement inside, which made the box heavier.
That’s why this can happen to all of us: The fraud is not just limited to the USA, because you no longer find such fraudsters (only) in vans. Today they primarily visit sites that offer second-hand goods – such as classified ads, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
If you want to find out more about the scam, we will provide you with an article from 2018 Digitaltrends
If you are looking for a new smart TV, pay attention to ten important things:
This is how you protect yourself from fraud
Logically, the best way to protect yourself from this is to not respond to dubious offers. On the other hand, the TV box from the beginning of the article looks like the others: lots of writing, lots of marketing words and badges too.
Be careful, especially perfidious! There is a QR code printed on the box that leads to this website leads – and at first glance it looks real. Only when you take a closer look do you notice that there are no data sheets or further information – or an imprint.
The television from the Reddit post can also be seen on the website. (Image: Neo Smart Theaters)
Here’s what a trained eye will notice about the box in the case in this article:
- Platinum Series Digital Home Theater 7.1: However, the box should only contain a sound deck and two satellite speakers, which are not enough for a 7.1 system.
- All plaques are unknown: There are uniform seals for certain standards, such as for HDR or 4K/8K. These were not used on the TV above.
- »Industrial Grade«: Fraudsters use pompous-sounding descriptions for devices, such as the supposed “industry standard” here, which bizarrely refers to outdoor use.
- Promised 2,300 watts: What does this refer to? This is far too high for the consumption of the television or audio devices; the average is around 100 watts per device. Above all, a high number should dazzle here.
- Korean flag: This probably means that it is a largely unknown Korean manufacturer. If you can’t find anything about a manufacturer in your Google search, it’s better to stay away from the supposed bargain.
If you are unsure whether you are falling for a scam, it is best to ask someone who is familiar with the relevant category.
In our TV buying advice you are guaranteed to only find real TVs.
Recognizing a scam is not easy, especially if you don’t know your way around. In the case of the Redditor in this article, he did exactly the right thing: asked the community for help.
Have you ever encountered an offer like this? Or maybe even fell for it? Feel free to write it in the comments.
