Anchorage police said Monday that residents should be wary of a group of men approaching people in parking lots offering to sell electronics, because you're likely to get a box of rocks.
The men, described in a police statement as Pacific Islanders, claim to have ordered the products for a customer who backed out of a deal, and they offer the item at a reduced price.
"The seller claims to have a business phone, website, and license," police said. The men did not provide business cards; they simply verbalized this information, said police spokeswoman Renee Oistad.
Victims of the scam "brought the boxes home, and then opened the boxes up to discover they are full of rocks," Oistad said.
The police department has received about three dozen reports about the scam, Oistad said.
Identifying the scammers by vehicle may be difficult, as police said they are using cars of different makes and models, and they are possibly swapping license plates too.
The police department is reminding people to be careful when making purchases from a private seller: Meet in public, don't go alone, and get a description of the seller's vehicle and license number. Avoid giving out your home address. Always use cash.
"Make sure you actually lay eyes on whatever product you are buying and, if possible, confirm it's in working order."