Scammers just level their game, this time they play in our vulnerable emotions.
A new kind of scam has been making waves in the United States lately. Fake Violin-playing scammers with signs that say, “Help me feed my 3 kids” or “Help me pay the rent. God bless you” are taking advantage of kind-hearted people.
Don’t be fooled, said Cpl. James Gatti of the Pinellas Park crime prevention bureau.
They’re all over the United States to fool us this coming Christmas season. Don’t be carried away because they are good at taking advantage of our kindness.
It’s called the “violin scam.”
These scammers have written a beautiful script, got a speaker that plays music flawlessly, and now they’re playing with our emotions with a fake Violin!
Even if you know nothing about musical instruments, you can still fish out a fake violinist. You only need to pay attention WITH YOUR EYES!
Though the sound coming from the speaker next to the player is loud and flawless. If you observe carefully you’d see that the bow doesn’t even touch the surface of the instrument.
WARNING: This is a nationwide issue, please be aware of scam violin players in Rockville and other location’s shopping centers. They are soliciting money through cash AND electronic methods.
Please share this alert to others. Stay Safe.
#scamviolinplayers#MCPnews pic.twitter.com/Axjj7tnkuk
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) December 2, 2021
Yes, you read that right…
Police are warning citizens around the country of scam artists who pretend to play the violin at shopping centers and parking lots while an instrumental plays through a speaker.
According to Breitbart reports:
These individuals are pretending to play the violin over a music track and claim to be homeless or have a sick relative, which is usually untrue.
An incident was documented last month in Pinellas Park, Florida, according to Fox 13. Crime and Prevention and Community Policing Corporal James Gatti told the outlet that the scammers usually hold signs asking for help with rent, food, and the care of relatives and sometimes children stand beside a counterfeit performer as they pretend to play.
“The second we pull up, they drop the violin, but the music is still playing through the speaker,” Gatti told Fox 13.
Gatti says the con artists are part of an organized group that plays on people’s emotions rather than violin strings.
“They are just traveling through the southeastern United States, stopping in different places,” he said.
So, keep an eye out folks.
And if you see someone playing the violin and they have a sad story and are collecting money, and you want to donate — just make sure you ask them to turn off their speaker and play something for you that way.
If they refuse, they’re a scammer.
Watch it here: Fox13/Youtube
Sources: WayneDupree, Breitbart