Shoppers all over Michiana scammed in parking lots
Shoppers all over Michiana scammed in parking lots Save Email Print
Posted: 11:39 PM Nov 26, 2008
Last Updated: 7:15 PM Nov 27, 2008
Reporter: Erin Logan
Email Address: erin.logan@wndu.com

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Buyers on a budget, beware.

Elkhart County Police say some scammers are hitting local shopping plaza lots, hoping to make a few bucks.

Several calls have come in from customers claiming to be scammed by sales people in white vans.

The sales pitch to buy a home-theater system repeatedly sounded too good to be true.

There’s a website, genesismedialabs.com, showcasing the must-have home theater system. Part of this pitch is the so-called "over-stocked merchandise" needs to go at cut-rate prices.”

There’s been no mention of prices, but police say they're being sold by scammers in parking lots all over northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Specifically, Lowe's in Goshen on US 33, a plaza in Three Rivers, and the Ligonier-Kendallville area.

Buyers are handed a brochure making it believable, Genesis Media Labs has "superior audio products" as their website states.

We showed, Roger Rosenberg a copy of the website home page and asked if approached, would he buy? He said, “Probably, so yeah you can't blame the normal person for at least considering it.”

Rosenberg said he had already heard about this scam last week from friends.

The merchandise has turned out to be of poor quality despite what buyers are told when sellers quote the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Police say the scammers are driving around in white vans.

Dominic and Lynn Mattea say, “It's really sad especially with the economy and our local economy as bad as it is, people have been laid off and really don't have money to waste on something like that.”

Rosenberg says, “I think you have to stay some place where the name is reputable and trust that it's going to be a good product.”

The website says Genesis Media Labs is based out of Los Angeles. There is no phone number to call, so we sent an e-mail on Wednesday.

Still, no reply on Thursday...but, since we first brought you this story, a couple tells us they were approached in the Border's parking lot on Grape Road.

Other areas mentioned were Three Rivers, and the Ligonier-Kendallville area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department at 574-533-8644 or 574-533-4151 on nights and weekends.

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Posted by: yoda Location: northern indiana on Apr 17, 2009 at 11:55 PM
its called tax evasion! ask the supplier in goshen who just got raided. you cant get cash from a so called business and not pay sales tax or income tax. think twice before you 'peddlers' make more illegal monies. oh yeah, and when trade speakers for say a bicycle or tools, that bartering-illegal as well.

Posted by: John Location: Goshen on Dec 25, 2008 at 02:01 AM
I bought a set of genesis media labs speakers from and they rock so i'm happy with the deal i got!!!I only paid 500

Posted by: TO M4 Location: Truth on Dec 1, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I agree on what you are saying to a point. This media is what has come to control the economy and the buisness controls the media. Everything that happens in the world via the war in iraq, the bombing of the towers ect.ect. is due to these buisness' making money. I also believe every person should own a minimum of 2 weapons, weather that be rifles or pistols. But thats not all you should buy. To everyone else including this M4 person, you dont need these giant speakers or the best t.v, get a book. Forget the ps3 and xbox 360 and go outside. Play a game with friends no matter your age. All this t.v. has turned each and everyone person into a brainwashed sheep. For a while i found myself that way, desiring every knew item on the market..desiring such useless products. Im not a nut job who is saying the worlds gonna end or america is doome,d but i do believe that learning to rely on yourself for ounce and not listening to this media bulls**t will better your survival in life.

Posted by: m4 on Nov 29, 2008 at 02:15 AM
this is what you dumbed down useless eaters get! you dont need all the stupid things the tv tells you that you need. buy guns instead of ipods and iphones and all of this useless crap. buy your family members rifles instead of electronic brainwashing devices. i hate most of you and would like to see a terrorist attack that brings the control grid to its knees so i can watch you unprepared sheep riot and go nuts.

Posted by: Jerry Location: Niles on Nov 28, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Good Question! Also how many white vans does the City of South Bend own?

Posted by: Bob on Nov 28, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Does the mayor of south bend drive a white van?

Posted by: Steve Location: Walkerton on Nov 28, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Does this mean that since I drive a white van I have to walk to the Shopping Centers

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Elkhart,IN on Nov 28, 2008 at 04:18 AM
This is pretty dumb. Why would you buy something out of a van in a parking lot? What part of scam isn't clear as a bell? This reminds me of a few years ago when people were selling actual TV's out of the back of their car.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 28, 2008 at 12:39 AM
I wish I knew why God made gullible people. It's so sad the way they struggle through life.

Posted by: kc9geu Location: hamlet on Nov 27, 2008 at 09:57 PM
This is a perfect example of the average american that is so brainwashed they are brain dead. Poison fluoride in the water to drop the average iq and a brainwashing corporation(schools) have presented amazing results indeed. Dah dah dah.

Posted by: tom Location: mishawaka on Nov 27, 2008 at 09:19 PM
this is bologna....i went xmas shopping for our family in our families white van....many funny looks in mall parking lots....thanks you wndu

Posted by: Not only in parking lots Location: S.E. South Bend on Nov 27, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Yesterday we had a white van in our neighborhood going houses with cars in the drive way. They were trying to sell vacuum cleaners.

Posted by: SBcop Location: SB on Nov 27, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Come on people, buying ANYTHING when being approached by a stranger in a parking lot is 100% too good to be true. Legitimate companies do not market this way- even Amway does not market in parking lots! You want to not be a victim, then wise up and decline the offers. Otherwise, you get what you got coming.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 27, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Angie is right! Why would you buy something you never have seen demonstrated? Would you buy a TV without seeing the picture quality? I guess now that their scam have been reported, these guys will move along.

Posted by: Angie Location: Granger on Nov 27, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Anyone buying something out of a "White Van" in a parking lot is an idiot and deserves what they get. Come on people, get real!!

Posted by: jrk Location: sb, in on Nov 27, 2008 at 07:54 AM
The system in the ad is over $4000 and the guys tried to sell it to me for $200. If it is a ripoff, the boxes certainly looked legit and genesis media labs was on it along with proper model number and such. This makes me think it's a chinese knockoff like the purses being sold in Elkhart a few years back(and probably still). Thus if it is a ripoff, then it's definitely a high end group of thieves doing this...I did not buy. White guy, maybe 5'11", seems like he had dirty/sandy blonde hair and some facial hair...maybe goatee, been a couple weeks. A little larger than medium build...the driver seems like he was heavier but all I remember was darker hair.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 27, 2008 at 07:48 AM
come on people, do not buy something from a solicitor that approaches you in a van, in a parking lot.....use some common sense. I would call my credit card company and do a charge back, and tell them to send me a new card because I am sure the business has already sold customers creadit card info.

Posted by: anyone Location: USA on Nov 27, 2008 at 06:31 AM
if you buy from a van in a parking lot, you deserve what you get.

Posted by: Tom Location: South Bend on Nov 27, 2008 at 05:42 AM
The "white van" scam has been around for at least 30 years that I am aware of. This is just a slicker version. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Posted by: ron on Nov 27, 2008 at 03:58 AM
There are tons of these scammers all over the U.S. and the world selling speakers and audio equipment out of their van or SUV;Lot of scammed people Warning about the different company names they use.....

Posted by: Safety Officer Location: Granger on Nov 27, 2008 at 01:05 AM
more info here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/252/RipOff0252262.htm http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/genesis-media-labs-c126166.html


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