This is NOT a scam, but you should know about it anyway

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
http://www.wtop.com/41/3746169/Scammers-target-holiday-shoppers-in-parking-lots


Carjackers are getting inventive. Whether you believe its a real bill or not, you still have to stop to pull it off your windshield, and thats a distraction.

Reminder: If you see anything weird as you approach your car, stop, look around, size up the situation.

I should think it would be easier to carjack someone who's hands are full of shopping bags, ideally after sunset. But whatever. Be aware.
 

Blanky

Platinum Member
Oct 18, 2014
2,457
12
46
"You come out to your car and you notice there's a $100 bill under your windshield wiper. And people go to get out of their car to get the $100 bill and get carjacked," Straughn says.
This doesn't make sense. I don't understand how this scam works. If you come out to your car and see the bill on the way you grab it. That doesn't increase susceptibility to being car jacked...And the "get out of their car" doesn't work, either, unless it was put there while you were in it? Also, why a $100 bill? Anybody will take even a piece of paper from under their windshield.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
This doesn't make sense. I don't understand how this scam works. If you come out to your car and see the bill on the way you grab it. That doesn't increase susceptibility to being car jacked...And the "get out of their car" doesn't work, either, unless it was put there while you were in it? Also, why a $100 bill? Anybody will take even a piece of paper from under their windshield.

Like I said its a distraction, and its actually happened multiple times. They want people to be aware. But I agree its not the best way.
 

moonbogg

Lifer
Jan 8, 2011
10,731
3,440
136
You see a $100 bill you start the car and floor it in reverse, running over the filthy thug perp.
 

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,688
126
This doesn't make sense. I don't understand how this scam works. If you come out to your car and see the bill on the way you grab it. That doesn't increase susceptibility to being car jacked...And the "get out of their car" doesn't work, either, unless it was put there while you were in it? Also, why a $100 bill? Anybody will take even a piece of paper from under their windshield.

You don't notice it until you're in the car. You put your bags in the trunk, open the door and hop in and immediately start the car because it's cold, turn the lights on and... what's that? Is that a $100 bill under the wiper??... hop out to grab it and some dude shoves you out of the way, jumps in the car and takes off.

I'm sure the bill isn't real, it's just photocopied.
 

IGemini

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2010
2,472
2
81
You don't notice it until you're in the car. You put your bags in the trunk, open the door and hop in and immediately start the car because it's cold, turn the lights on and... what's that? Is that a $100 bill under the wiper??... hop out to grab it and some dude shoves you out of the way, jumps in the car and takes off.

In my case I'm having a hard time seeing this working...but I tend to check my windshield before getting into my car. Or at least notice if anything is under my wiper blades.

You also wouldn't catch me in Maryland. :p
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,321
126
This doesn't make sense. I don't understand how this scam works. If you come out to your car and see the bill on the way you grab it. That doesn't increase susceptibility to being car jacked...And the "get out of their car" doesn't work, either, unless it was put there while you were in it? Also, why a $100 bill? Anybody will take even a piece of paper from under their windshield.
It makes perfect sense...
You come out to your car you get into your car and you start your car.....you notice there is a $100 bill in one of the windshield wipers...you get out to grab the $100 and somebody grabs the car
 

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
2,355
75
91
meettomy.site
Dude, the bill isn't real. It's just a photocopy from an ink jet printer that you won't really notice until someone has a gun in your back.
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
7,162
424
126
It makes perfect sense...
You come out to your car you get into your car and you start your car.....you notice there is a $100 bill in one of the windshield wipers...you get out to grab the $100 and somebody grabs the car
Sounds like the Rube Goldberg version of carjacking to me.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
What next, a line of $100 bills leading into the back of a shady van?

Someone needs to photoshop that shit.

Protip: Just drive to the nearest Police department and pocket the bill.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,872
31,369
146
Sounds like the Rube Goldberg version of carjacking to me.

Houdini or ___ magician, maybe. That's distraction.

Rube Goldberg is like:

You see the bill, grab the bill: it's tied to a string which pulls a lever. The lever flips a switch which drops a ball bearing. the ball bearing tumbles down a ramp of maple leaves and sour apples and lands on a switch which flicks a flint that lights a candle. the candle creates smoke which raises a thin sheet of paper. The paper crosses a constant stream of water vapor after 2 feet, which causes the paper to descend, directly onto a mouse trap.

The mouse trap snaps and sets off a cascade of dominoes that trickles across the Best Buy parking lot (don't forget--this is where you are about to get robbed--Rube Goldberg style, just be patient, see) until the last domino falls on the end of a match stick, perched next to t badger cage. The match stick is light from the friction of the domino, thus sending the caged badger into a rage. The badger busts out of his cage, then makes a bee-line to the Best Buy dumpster area, and bites the napping Thief in his nuts. The thief awakens, then sprints off to your car to shove you out of the way, jump in the driver seat, then abscond with his booty!

Fucking Thief!
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
7,162
424
126
Houdini or ___ magician, maybe. That's distraction.

Rube Goldberg is like:

You see the bill, grab the bill: it's tied to a string which pulls a lever. The lever flips a switch which drops a ball bearing. the ball bearing tumbles down a ramp of maple leaves and sour apples and lands on a switch which flicks a flint that lights a candle. the candle creates smoke which raises a thin sheet of paper. The paper crosses a constant stream of water vapor after 2 feet, which causes the paper to descend, directly onto a mouse trap.

The mouse trap snaps and sets off a cascade of dominoes that trickles across the Best Buy parking lot (don't forget--this is where you are about to get robbed--Rube Goldberg style, just be patient, see) until the last domino falls on the end of a match stick, perched next to t badger cage. The match stick is light from the friction of the domino, thus sending the caged badger into a rage. The badger busts out of his cage, then makes a bee-line to the Best Buy dumpster area, and bites the napping Thief in his nuts. The thief awakens, then sprints off to your car to shove you out of the way, jump in the driver seat, then abscond with his booty!

Fucking Thief!
Right, which is essentially just as useless as is the fake-money-on-windshield-driver-steps-out-theif-nabs-car bullshit that only an absolute idiot of a carjacker would need to resort to.

As for the professionals:

You walk out to your car, thief steps out from where-the-hell-ever he would be anyway, just not relying on any bill-on-windshield bullshit, sticks *REAL* gun in your face, says "Give me your fucking car keys. Oh, AND your wallet while your at it, dipshit." You: shit pants, do *exactly* as told, watch thief drive off with your car and wallet full of any *REAL* dollars you may have had.

Fucking *REAL* thief!
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
For the record, any situations that has to start off with "This is NOT a scam", is a scam.

Second, has this actually ever happened? I mean come on. If I was going to carjack you, why the scam? Why not just carjack you BEFORE you even begin to enter the car? And, how does the would be thief know you're alone when placing the money? This is just way too complicated of a situation for any real criminals to employ. They will simply take that $100 bill and go buy a small pistol. After that has been accomplished, they will simply walk up to you with it drawn and say "keys motherfucker!" and take your car. Or, in some cases, get shot in the head by an off duty police officer at a gas station.
 

trenchfoot

Lifer
Aug 5, 2000
15,846
8,438
136
I could describe a scenario that would make this way of jacking a car very doable, but I wouldn't want to encourage or assist a potential perp that's using this ploy by making it any easier for him, now would I? ;)
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
3
0
In my case I'm having a hard time seeing this working...but I tend to check my windshield before getting into my car. Or at least notice if anything is under my wiper blades.

You also wouldn't catch me in Maryland. :p

I have a hard time believing it as well. Wouldn't they have more success just getting you while you are initially getting in the car?