Your ability to get a refund from a white van speaker scam depends mostly on what you can prove. In the best case, you have a receipt. If that’s the case, contact the sellers and ask for a refund. If you took a video or a picture of the con artists, you may be able to get a refund. It would depend on if the agreed upon price was discussed or if you included the location or license plate number.

Pictures or videos including the license plate and location may have a soliciting case. Most retail locations, such as banks and electronics stores, prohibit soliciting. The difficult task would be locating the salesmen. Consult the list below for your white van speaker scam distributor.

If you have no evidence of your purchase, you may be out of luck. You can try to contact the distributor- There have been cases where the distributor will call the salesmen and get you a refund. You can also ask to review the security tapes from the parking lot where you purchased your speakers. Thirdly, you can always file a police report. Finally, the least you can do is post your experiences online and help spread awareness of the white van speaker scam.

List of white van scam distributors

The white van scam- also known as the white van speaker scam or white van stereo scam- is when a person has been duped into purchasing so-called high-end speakers for a bargain from the back of a salesperson’s utility van- also known as the white van. This website exists to educate you on the white van scam.

The “Salesmen”

The con artists may present themselves as stereo equipment installers or any kind of electronic salespeople. They may even wear uniforms or badges with a company logo. The con artists refer to themselves as “speakermen” or “speakerguys”.

The White Van Scam

The con artists usually sell their speakers from the back of a white van. They have also been known to drive minivans, SUVs, and trucks. Some clever speakermen will even put company logos on their van. Do not be fooled!

The Con

The con artists will be in a hurry to sell their speakers. They will explain to their victims that, for some reason, they must sell these speakers quickly and for a very good price. The speakermen will show you a receipt and a price tag of several thousand dollars. Do not be fooled! This site will go over the various sales tactics that were found to be utilized by these con artists so you won’t be manipulated into losing your money.

Known Brands

• Acoustic Response Series 707, Acoustic Image, Acoustic Lab Technology, Acoustic 3312 Studio Monitor
• Dogg Digital, Digital Dogg Audio
• Dahlton KV 1500, Dahlton KV 2500 TI Speakers, Dahlton AV5.1 THX
• Grafdale
• Digital Pro Audio, Pro Audio, Digital Pro Audio SL-T 2.8
• Digital Audio SL-3810, Digital Audio DA 2000SL / 2000CS, Digital Audio 2000, Digital Audio Professional Speaker Systems SL-3810, Digital Audio Skyline 900-SL, Digital Audio SL-3910 Speakers, Skyline AD-900SL, Digital Audio 2003 DA 5.1 Pro-Series III
• Digital Research 5.1 Pro Series, Digital Research DA 5.1 Pro Series III
• Dynalab
• Di Vinci Innovative Sound & Bass, Di Vinci D-52, Di Vinci Home theater system
• Audiofile 835LR, Audiofile 583LR
• Denmark
• Epiphany Audio speakers, Epiphany Solo Limited, Holographic Imaging System, Epiphany 1200, Epiphany Bantum Speakers, Epiphany Bantam Towers, C4 Tower Epiphany, Model H3, Lightning S21
• Onkyo HT-S650
• Genesis Media Labs, Genesis Media Labs G-505, Genesis G1620, Genesis Home Theatre System, Genesis G6030 Home Theater System
• London Audio Speakers, London Audio Oxford Speakers,
• Kirsch K2030 Home Audio,
• Matrix Audio Concepts MX-1300, MTS Cinema Series PS-4200
• Theater Research TR-1120, Theater Research TR-6000, Theater Research TR-1410 Digital Sound Speakers, Theater Research TR-900 Speakers, TR-5210 Professional Home Theater, Theater Research TR-2810, TR900, TR-6100 Digital Sound/5.1 Home Cinema, Theater Research Pro Series III Professional Home Theater TR5160
• 8810 Linear phase studio monitors
• Cerwin-Vega AVS-632 Surround Sound, Cerwin Vega AVS 632 Speakers
• Protecsound PT-5000 digital surround sound system speakers
• Pro Dynamics Studio Speakers TX1200
• Skyline AD900-SL speakers
• EPIC-600 Innovative Sound and Bass
• More here

Below are some pictures of typical white scam speakers. They may look like good speakers but they are very low quality and may not even work. Do not be fooled!

Derrell Record talks about his experiences with the white van speaker scam. Later, we analyze the scam so you know what to look for.

Derrell was scammed by some guys in North Hollywood, CA pretending to be home theater installers. They told him how they got an extra set of speakers and their boss doesn’t know about it. They claimed the speakers were worth $3000 but were offering to sell them for only $300. The speakers brand is McLaren MT7 which is fake and doesn’t exist. These speakers are actually filled with sand. In the video below Derrell talks about his experience in getting ripped off.

Analysis of this white van speaker scam

White van speaker scam con artists only have a short time to make their sale before people start getting suspicious. Since they only have a few chances, speakermen will increase their odds by targeting young men who don’t seem in a hurry to leave. In this case, Darrell is the perfect target.

The con opens with a very frequently used excuse- The con artist is in a hurry to be somewhere. This tricks Derrell into thinking he has the upper hand and causes him to lower his defenses.

Next, the white van speaker scam con artist uses another classic trick- He let’s Derrell in on a secret. He tells Derrell that the speakers are his by accident and are very expensive. Derrell knows a deal like this is not common, so he needs an excuse for why the deal is so good. This trick works very well because it makes the situation seem reasonable.

Finally, the con artist makes Derrell feel like he needs a favor. This last trick is what separates an amateur con artist from a pro. Derrell fell for the white van speaker scam because he thought he was helping someone out and making a profit at the same time. By the time he realized it was all a trick, Derrell was already back home and out $150.

These con artists will lie to you and manipulate you into giving them your hard earned money. Don’t let this white van scam happen to you!

This guy fell for a white van speaker scam and bought some speakers which he thought were high quality. When he got home and did some research, he realized they were just a cheap knock-off brand. He didn’t even want to waste his time selling them so instead he destroyed them Office Space style. Watch as he takes his anger out on the speakers and even gets his dog to join in. If you ever see a white van trying to sell you speakers make sure not to end up like this guy.

Speaker quality analysis

The speakers for sale are made in China and worth a maximum of $80, including the shipping costs from China. Some speakers have even been filled with sand. Here’s a breakdown of the typical white van scam speaker.

• Tweeter – Very low quality. $2.50
• Mid – Very low quality. $6.50
• Bass – Paper cone surrounded with foam and a weak magnet. Very low quality. $7.00
• Cabinets – Chipboard with vinyl veneer. $60.00 for the pair
• Crossover – Very low quality. Sometimes not included. $0.40

White van speaker scam distributors

One important fact to note is that these speakers must come from somewhere. The speakers are bought overseas, usually in China, then stored in large warehouses. From there, they are shipped to local distributors. The local distributors then either sell the speakers online or from the back of a van. The van system is preferred because they are more difficult to track and buyers will usually not ask for a receipt. There are many known distributors. See this article for a breakdown of the white van speaker scam and some information on known distributors. The good news is that you are legally entitled to a refund within 3 days of your purchase. If you’ve been scammed, don’t be discouraged. Get your money back!

This guy got busted trying to sell fake speakers from his white van at a mall parking lot.