Reader warns of auto repair scam in Fred Meyer parking lot

by | Dec 9, 2013

Susan tells us she was approached as part of a scam in Greenwood Fred Meyer’s parking lot on Saturday.

This afternoon, I was approached in the parking lot at the Greenwood Fred Meyer by two young Hispanic men who offered to repair the dents in my old Toyota for $500. Their white pick-up truck had magnetic signs reading “Mobile Auto Body.” I’d already received an estimate of $1,000 for the same work from a reputable body shop on Greenwood Ave. The men insisted that I let them do the work on the spot. Alternatively, they offered to follow me to my home where they could do the work.
I realized it was a scam and asked them for a card and for references. They said the price they offered me was good only for today. One of the men flashed his WA drivers’ license and cited his car’s magnetic signs as proof that he was legitimate. After I decline and got into my car, another young man knocked on my window. He claimed they had done satisfactory work for him and urged me to accept the offer. I declined again and drove away.
When I got home I Googled “mobile auto body repair scam” and learned that con artists like these guys target elderly people, vandalize their cars and demand payment. https://www.city-data.com/forum/los-angeles/1647022-have-you-been-approached-one-these.html, https://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=120739&showcomments=T, https://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2141459/dent-repair-removal-scam

Did anyone else experience this?

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