Home Depot/Lowes Scam Exposed!

[Tracir]

I went to my local news station website today and saw this article. I realized I know the 3rd person being arrested- we went to high school together!! We had a great site about 4 years ago for Alumni and since his last name starts with "A" I would notice and 4 years ago he was a preacher!

The only thing I wonder about- if you link to the article- it says that Secret Service agents arrested them?

To sum up the scam- they would exchange bar codes on very expensive rugs for bar codes that ring up $29.99. They would then take the rugs back to other stores without a receipt and get a store credit for the $300-400 cost of the rug on a gift card. Then they would sell the gift cards on Ebay. They said they stole more than $150K in rugs. They did it through 4 different states but why did the Secret Service get involved? I understand the FBI since it was multi state and internet.

Our Federal DA in Atlanta held a press conference and acknowledged it was a brilliant scheme but they would be going after them full force.

I guess what I don't understand is we all go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy things. We would actually pile a load of things we bought into a bag in the laundry room that needed to go back- we didn't need in whatever project we were working on. Everytime we went- receipt or not- they took one of our drivers license. I think these people were smart and stupid at the same time!

Here's the link! What a great day for my alma mater- my sister who also went to my high school- 3 of 4 of us kids did- is now the Choral Director there after moving home from Nashville this year. She takes her chorus to sing at Richs-Macy's at a local mall and one girl gets arrested for stealing 4 pairs of pants and 4 shirts that she hid in her backpack. The school has changed so much.

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[pandybat]

I seriously don't know where people get the big cajones to do stuff like this. I would be scared out of my mind of being caught. They committed a felony. There's so serious jail time coming to those people. What were they thinking?? How long did they think they could pull it off before getting caught?? Can you imagine explaining this to family and friends? Their lives are ruined because of their stupidity and dishonesty.

[3tbear]

Originally Posted by pandybat

I seriously don't know where people get the big cajones to do stuff like this. I would be scared out of my mind of being caught. They committed a felony. There's so serious jail time coming to those people. What were they thinking?? How long did they think they could pull it off before getting caught?? Can you imagine explaining this to family and friends? Their lives are ruined because of their stupidity and dishonesty.

I totally agree with pandybat, what were they thinking???

[snooze14]

I don't know why a person would do that either. You wonder though when you see stuff like that on sale at ebay why they would auction off store credit. Unbelievable!

I am as confused as you are about why the secret service would be doing the arresting...