Everyone needs to be on the lookout for a group of scam artists preying on unsuspecting car owners with minor damage on their vehicle. I’ve seen their destructive handy work throughout Orange County over a dozen times.
Their sales pitch is generally the same. A guy will approach you in a parking lot claiming to work for a body shop. He will offer to repair and repaint your damaged car, but will insist on doing the work that day, while his shop is slow.
Customers lured by great deal
Most customers I’ve talked with were skeptical, but gave in for two reasons. First, they thought they were getting a great deal and second, the scammer’s persistent sales pitch was convincing. After a price is agreed upon, the con artist will follow his customer home and will start his “repair”, while the vehicle is parked in the driveway.
When the customers comes out to inspect the finished work, he will have rubbed a white, milky looking buffing compound all over the repaired area and say it needs to be washed off the next day. He also normally finishes around dusk, making it harder to evaluate his work.
No Paper Trail
In order not to leave a paper trail, no receipt or invoice given, and a cash payment will be demanded. The poor customer doesn’t realize he has been scammed until the next day when the white compound comes off and he can see actually see the repair job. The paint is dull with no clear coat and clearly mismatched.
That’s when I get a call for help and hear the sad story. So beware. Tell your friends and don’t let this happen to you.