Television scam returns to South Shore Plaza

The caller promised seven 60-inch Pioneer plasma televisions for $7,500.

But as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

That's what a father and son from East Providence, R.I., found out Wednesday evening after driving to the South Shore Plaza.

The men told police that a man named "Teddy" contacted the son at work and told him the Sears store had an overstock of televisions and extras were being sold at a huge discount.

Scam artists have lured other victims to the plaza with promises of expensive televisions at bargain prices in the past.

The father and son agreed to buy the televisions and drove to Sears, where they met a man named "John" in the parking lot.

John, who was described as a 6-foot white male in his early 20s, was wearing a brown leather jacket, khaki pants, a striped shirt and a tie.

The Rhode Island men were told that Teddy was inside doing paperwork as they gave John $7,500 and received a receipt.

The men then drove to the store's automotive entrance and went inside.

John allegedly told the men that only employees could use the elevator and that he would meet them at the shipping department.

After five minutes, the men began asking about Teddy and learned that no such person worked at Sears.

Police are working with Sears security personel to obtain video surveillance footage of John as he entered the store.

In 2007, a Woburn man was ordered to spend a year in jail for his role in a similar scheme at the plaza.

Police suspected that he had been working with three other men from the Somerville area and may have been involved in as many as 13 incidents at the mall.

The Patriot Ledger