- Report: #1243093
Complaint Review: Alta Moda Italiana - Tustin California
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Alta Moda Italiana
Tustin, California, USA
Web:
www.antoniobasile1952.it
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Alta Moda Italiana Pirozzia Medeo Giorgio Armani Bootleg Jackets Tustin California
I'm outside a popular shopping (outside a Costco) and a nicely dressed Italian fellow pulls up behind me as I am backing out of my parking space. Thinking he's just waiting for me to exit so he can park in my space, he asks for directions to the Airport (about 10 min from where we were). I proceed to give him directions and the conversation shifts to his "spiel". His story is that he's a fashion designer/tailor who works for Giorgio Armani. On his way back to Milano, Italy he was here for a fashion convention (1 week) at Fashion Island (Newport Beach). He conveyed that he had clothes that he wanted to give away because he did not want to pay the tax on shipping them back to Italy.
We park at a nearby location and he proceeds to show me what he's giving me: 3 men's jackets (2 suede, 1 leather), and 1 woman's jacket (suede). After "gifting" me the men's jackets, he proceeds to ask if I have a girlfriend. After confirming, he tells me he's trying to buy his niece something when he returns to Italy, as he would hate to go back empty-handed. Apparently, he did not have cash in USD (strange for a high-valued tailor/designer whom purportedly works for Giorgio Armani). He asks me how much I could give him for just the women's coat. This is where I immediately knew there was something wrong and fishy and immediatley left the scene of the crime. (so to speak).
There are many telling signs of this scam (listed below). The takeaway? Never trust a dude with an accent when you're in So Cal:
- The obvious search for an unaware consumer (he even goes as far as to provide me with a business card and look him up in Italy if I ever go there)
- When displaying his showcase of supposed "fashion material", the Giorgio Armani logo is an obvious ripoff (not the same as the real thing)
- The hook, line, sinker: after "giving" you the coats (the coats were really well-made, I must say, but I'm no tailor/designer), he proceeds to ask what amount of money you can give him so that he could buy something for his niece back home in Italy. He asks for anything (whatever you can give him), thinking you feel so obliged to give him something because he just gave you something (supposedly really expensive).
