Accused of Buying a Stolen Laptop

[amn70]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New York

I am not sure if this forum category is the right one but let me explain my situation

I am a self employed computer technician that runs a computer service business from home. Been doing it for about 12 years. I got a call yesterday from someone who asked me if I buy used computers. Now I usually do not do that as part of my business although I will on occasion and then usually only if its existing service customer of mine. Figuring she was simply looking for someone to buy her old computer I explained that to her. She seemed to press me more which I thought odd but since it sounded like she was desperate to sell I said well, depending on the make and model, I might consider it so just tell me the make and model so I can determine its worth it to me.

She then became belligerent and asked if I had bought an apple laptop in the last 2 months from someone for $200 to which I became suspicious with the question realizing she wasn't looking to sell anything but rather feeling me out. I said I hadn't and asked why she was asking. She then said that someone had taken advantage of her daughter by buying her $2000 macbook for $200. I said I was not that person and asked why she thinks it was me. She said she found my business card in her daughters wallet. I asked how she got my business card and she said her daughter said someone gave it to her. I said, well whoever she sold it to was not me. I asked if her daughter confirmed that I was the one who bought it and her exact words where "I believe so". I asked if the daughter had a description of the person and place she went to make the transaction and she again said "i believe so". I said well why are u calling and accusing me if you are not sure? She then got more angry and said I would be hearing from a detective within the next few days and hung up

In a nutshell someone ripped a girl off in the sale of her laptop and the mother is pissed. Somehow my business card was in the girls wallet which is certainly possible as I hand multiple cards to my existing customers to give to friends and family. Guess the mom assumed I was the one who bought it since my card was in her wallet. She couldn't even be sure her daughter was sure. Seems odd that she would call and accuse me when the only thing she had to go on was my business card. Also any decent thief doing something like that the last thing they would do was give the buyer a business card with their real name, home address, email and phone number all of which are on my business cards.

Pisses me off as I am the most honest guy, sometimes too honest. My client base would back me up on that statement as would all my friends.

Assuming she did report it what are the odds that somehow this could turn into a legal issue for me simply because she had my business card. I have never been in trouble with law. Haven't even had a traffic ticket in over 20 years.

Thanks in advance,
Adam

[llworking]

The police are likely to see it the same way you do...assuming they would even bother with it at all. It is not illegal to buy something from someone for a really cheap price.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Assuming she did report it what are the odds that somehow this could turn into a legal issue for me simply because she had my business card. I have never been in trouble with law. Haven't even had a traffic ticket in over 20 years.

If you didn't buy the computer, you didn't buy the computer. The business card won't change that fact.

It only becomes a potential problem if you did buy the computer and you're lying through your teeth -- but that's not the case, and so the business card proves only that the daughter had your business card.

[Who'sThatGuy]

If the child is a minor, would that change anything?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If amn70 didn't buy the computer, as he claims, then no.