RESIDENTS are being urged not to buy TVs from the back of vans as they may not be getting the deal they think they are getting.
The police have put out the warning after a number of incidents in the area, including the latest one at a car park at Hopwood Services on the M42.
It happened at around midday on Wednesday (December 12). A man in a dark blue Renault van was offering televisions for sale to random motorists.
Police said people were being scammed into buying televisions at reduced prices from vans around Bromsgrove district.
The fraudsters operate on public car parks offering flat screen televisions at reduced prices claiming that they are ex-display models, or shop returns.
The reality is the televisions are scrap and do not work. They come heavily wrapped in plastic or original looking boxes, which do not give the buyer the opportunity to check the TV at the time.
When the buyer gets them home they find the TV does not work or the screen is damaged.
PC Simon Albutt from Alvechurch & Wythall Safer Neighbourhood Team is urging people not to get caught out.
“Remember the old saying: ‘If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is’,” he added.
Anyone seeing people selling televisions suspiciously from the back of a van should contact police on 101.
