Police Find Painted Wood Blocks Used as Fake Laptops in Scam

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Norman police say they have broken up a tri-state scam involving counterfeit computer laptops.

Monday during a routine traffic stop officers found what appeared to be laptop boxes in the back seat of a car. The boxes looked authentic, right down to the dealer labels and bubble wrap, but inside there was nothing but a piece of painted plywood.

"I tore open the bubble wrap and it was actually a piece of plywood that was painted black, exactly the size of a laptop, and it had the dell logo affixed on it," said Norman Police Detective Kellee Robertson.

Police arrested the driver, 29-year-old Milton White. He's charged in Cleveland County with violating the Trademark Anti-Counterfeiting Act. Police believe the scam may have included Texas and Kansas, as well as Oklahoma.

"They are running some type of scam in between the three states selling these fraudulent laptops to citizens in parking lots, or maybe on Craigslist. We don't know for sure at this point," said Det. Robertson.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City police are currently investigating a woman's complaint that she paid $400 for a laptop computer. It turned out to be just a piece of wood with an Apple sticker on it. The man who sold it to her left his cell phone number.

Norman police obtained the number, called it and heard the phone ringing in the car Milton White was driving.

If you've been sold one of these phony laptops, call your local police department.