Leather Jacket Scam

Banyule has experienced Leather Jacket sharp practices bordering on scams recently as reported by several sources. Basically the con-men are polite, friendly, well-dressed men who claim to be returning to Europe after a sales expo. They speak with a slight European accent. Unaccompanied men are usually targeted and are asked, from their car window, for directions to the airport.

Once told directions they draw the victim into conversation and proffer a business card indicating that they are sales representatives from Europe. Eventually they offer to sell, at a great discount or give away leather jackets because they don’t want to take them back to Europe “because of the export tax” or “too much baggage”.

At the last moment they ask for a contribution towards buying their darling daughter an Apple Laptop for her birthday. Once the money is handed over, they drive off leaving the victim with inexpensive imitation vinyl jackets which can be bought cheaply on eBay. Such instances are not an offence as the funds were freely given, voluntarily as a gift. Where jackets are purchased, caveat emptor applies which is a principal that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

While there appears to be an increasing number of scams during this period of uncertainty and anxiety, it does not necessarily mean there will be increasing criminal offences as the economic effects of the pandemic take effect.