strangers stop by offer car fix (gated, dangerous, residential)

[frenzyrider]

Interesting thread. What is their modus operandi or what do they do if you agree?

[4Movingeast]

Yeah, the ITs are more well known for driveway schemes but I would not put sketchy auto repair past them. Do not ever let them into your house, do not give them any personal info, and definitely notify your neighbors. If the guy casing your neighborhood is in fact a Traveller, they are responsible for the first murder in my extremely safe neighborhood in decades. The areas West of Fort Worth (Team Ranch and other White Settlement area neighborhoods) are rife with them. They prey on the elderly and truly do not see non-Travellers as human. They are merely "marks" from which to make money by nefarious means. And those means are getting more and more nefarious.

Irish Travellers, insurance fraud and a murder in Colleyville | The Star Telegram The Star Telegram

[soda7o]

Originally Posted by frenzyrider

Interesting thread. What is their modus operandi or what do they do if you agree?

very similar to what we had in NY... they are gypsies.
they circle parking lots (home depot, malls, ec..)
they offer to fix your car atvery inexpensive prices, if you agree get ready for them to F^%k your car up worst than before.

i had a friend in NY fall for this... they started doing a repair on a dent that could have been easily popped out instead they drilled and pulled it, than smudged it with putty and spray painted... it looked and was 10X worst than before.. when my fined refused to pay, a few nearby vehicles pulled up with a dozen or so other gypsies and threatened him
he ended up forking over the couple of hundred bucks in fear for his life.

do not talk to them
do not engage them
do not let them touch your car or property (but be polite when doing so, they don't take things litely) also note down the car they drove, plates if possible just in case

if they are repeatedly at your property note down plates and cars and report to police, when they are gone.. remember they know where you live and you dontknow squat about them

[The Big Lebowski Dude]

Yes, these gypsies are P.O.S. scumbag scammers that should be avoided at all costs. They are in some cases extremely aggressive & don't like taking no for an answer. Do your best to stay as far away from them as possible; don't speak to them (if you can help it) or encourage them. As far as I'm concerned, they are potentially dangerous.

I heard about that tragedy in the DFW area - sickening.

[Siggy20]

Interesting. There was a man in a really run down car walking by every house in our neighborhood, taking notes and offering tree trimming services. My husband saw him walking in the alleyway and told him not cone back. This guy was pretty persistent and we saw him several times over the course of a week. Pretty skanky appearing and I felt really uncomfortable. Now I'm wondering if he was a gypsy.

[nitynity]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

Delay them if they come by again, cook up a story about spouse on way home and he or she have to decide. Then call the cops. Need to get these criminal out of business before they sucker some one it to it.

Thanks Johnhw2 and ThreeStep. I thought about that option as well but not quite sure since they now where I live. I don't want to **** them off or have them arrested and later get shot by one of their gang members.

[nitynity]

Originally Posted by soda7o

very similar to what we had in NY... they are gypsies.
they circle parking lots (home depot, malls, ec..)
they offer to fix your car atvery inexpensive prices, if you agree get ready for them to F^%k your car up worst than before.

i had a friend in NY fall for this... they started doing a repair on a dent that could have been easily popped out instead they drilled and pulled it, than smudged it with putty and spray painted... it looked and was 10X worst than before.. when my fined refused to pay, a few nearby vehicles pulled up with a dozen or so other gypsies and threatened him
he ended up forking over the couple of hundred bucks in fear for his life.

do not talk to them
do not engage them
do not let them touch your car or property (but be polite when doing so, they don't take things litely) also note down the car they drove, plates if possible just in case

if they are repeatedly at your property note down plates and cars and report to police, when they are gone.. remember they know where you live and you don't know squat about them

I didn't think about the number plates until he was gone. I could have easily got his plates from indoors since he pulled in right behind my sedan in driveway. i am going to report to HOA now. These guys doesn't sound harmless from all you guys responses.

[4Movingeast]

Originally Posted by Siggy20

Interesting. There was a man in a really run down car walking by every house in our neighborhood, taking notes and offering tree trimming services. My husband saw him walking in the alleyway and told him not cone back. This guy was pretty persistent and we saw him several times over the course of a week. Pretty skanky appearing and I felt really uncomfortable. Now I'm wondering if he was a gypsy.

A run down car will NOT be an Irish Traveller. They drive top of the line, all chrome everything, lifted, every option late model Chevrolet trucks or Mercedes SUVs, typically with Alaska license plates or temporary tags. Men wear bright colored Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, jeans, and expensive loafers or work boots. Their accents when speaking are unmistakable as well.

[elan]

Originally Posted by frenzyrider

Interesting thread. What is their modus operandi or what do they do if you agree?

The last group that I have direct knowledge of were into home repair scams. Chimneys, vents, lightning rods, fences - stuff that wasn't broken or stuff they themselves broke. A fairly nicely dressed one would come to the door and say they were working on a house down the street. They would ask for money up front for materials, sometimes they came back, sometimes they didn't. When they did come back, they would mess around and then ask for more money. They duped a 90 year old woman on my parent's street. She let the nicer looking one in to pay him and before she knew it they were all inside. She got scared and wrote them a check for several thousand dollars. She called her son, who called and rushed to her bank, but it was too late. I've kinda tired to keep track of them, just to keep my parents informed. I know they have been arrested in Bossier City LA and Goshen Indiana, no telling where else.

[soda7o]

Originally Posted by 4Movingeast

A run down car will NOT be an Irish Traveller. Men wear bright colored Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, jeans, and expensive loafers

hahahah spot on