Post by Zincdust on Nov 18, 2005 18:38:44 GMT -5
Caught this story on North-West Cable News, and it was just too good not to share with you all. ;D
www.kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4137050
Man accused in Lego selling scam
Nov 18, 2005, 08:39 AM PST
BEAVERTON -- Deputies say a man scammed Target stores in five states out of more than $100,000 in an eBay Lego selling scam.
After a tip from Target security officers, Washington County deputies arrested 40-year-old William Swanberg in the parking lot of the Target on Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway Thursday.
Detectives say Swanberg developed a method to replace bar codes on the more expensive Star Wars Lego set with one from a less expensive Lego set, then would sell them on eBay.
Target officials think he committed the same crime in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.
When officers arrested Swanberg they say they found 56 Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego sets valued at approximately $99 each, 22 other Lego sets, and 5 Harry Potter Lego sets thought to have been stolen from other Target stores in the area.
Police also seized a lap top computer where Swanberg identified Target stores in the area.
Detectives think he may have scammed stores out of $150,000.
Swanberg was taken to the Washington County Jail on first degree theft charges.
So, this guy would print up UPC codes of cheap $5-$20 Star Wars Lego sets onto sticker paper, go into the store, and place the new UPC codes over the UPCs of more expensive (~$100 or so) Lego sets.
On TV, they said that when police moved in for the arrest, the guy went nuts trying to rip the new UPC codes off of the boxes.
Can you believe that? Close to $150,000 worth of Legos!
So, I thought it was interesting... Please discuss.
www.kptv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4137050
Man accused in Lego selling scam
Nov 18, 2005, 08:39 AM PST
BEAVERTON -- Deputies say a man scammed Target stores in five states out of more than $100,000 in an eBay Lego selling scam.
After a tip from Target security officers, Washington County deputies arrested 40-year-old William Swanberg in the parking lot of the Target on Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway Thursday.
Detectives say Swanberg developed a method to replace bar codes on the more expensive Star Wars Lego set with one from a less expensive Lego set, then would sell them on eBay.
Target officials think he committed the same crime in Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California.
When officers arrested Swanberg they say they found 56 Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego sets valued at approximately $99 each, 22 other Lego sets, and 5 Harry Potter Lego sets thought to have been stolen from other Target stores in the area.
Police also seized a lap top computer where Swanberg identified Target stores in the area.
Detectives think he may have scammed stores out of $150,000.
Swanberg was taken to the Washington County Jail on first degree theft charges.
So, this guy would print up UPC codes of cheap $5-$20 Star Wars Lego sets onto sticker paper, go into the store, and place the new UPC codes over the UPCs of more expensive (~$100 or so) Lego sets.
On TV, they said that when police moved in for the arrest, the guy went nuts trying to rip the new UPC codes off of the boxes.
Can you believe that? Close to $150,000 worth of Legos!
So, I thought it was interesting... Please discuss.
