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Credit Card Processing A No Go On Storage Hunters

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 20:09

The most interesting thing happened the other night on TruTv's Storage Hunters when they found a bunch of credit card processing machines. They cancelled the auction! It turns out there was very good reason, but where do they draw the line.

First off, I will admit that I'm obsessed with these auction shows on TV, but frankly, I cannot tell which one I'm watching. There is Storage Wars, Auction Hunters and Storage Hunters which all seem the same. It's actually pretty ridiculus that there are so many identical shows, but there must be a demand considering I spend my time switching back and forth since the reruns seem to air at the same time.

So trying to remember where I actually saw these credit card processing machines was tricky but the point of the story is this. When they opened up the storage unit to allow prospective buyers to examine the unit before bidding, there was a desk, three credit card processing machines and stacks of papers. It looked like a pathetic little office set up in a storage bin. Upon further inspection, the stacks of papers were all counterfeit templates for social security numbers. Busted!

This storage bin was a front where criminals did false credit card processing and the owner of the property confiscated the items and we assume called the authorities. Definitely the right thing to do but here is where it gets weird. In the same episode, a unit was opened for inspection revealing a large amount of chemistry equipment and empty bleach bottles on the ground. For those in the know, they immediately knew it was a meth lab. I just thought some kid rented the bin to work on his Science Fair Project, but I digress.

You would think having found a meth lab on site would have elicited the same response as the credit card processing machines did earlier but the property owner opened the bidding and sold off the unit. I cannot remember his justification with proceeding with the auction but it was dodgy at best. The funny thing was the bidder. His face was blocked out of the show, meaning he did not sign the consent to appear on the show, and when he won the auction he was hostile and aggressive, closed the bin and stormed off. I have a sneaking suspicion that we were probably looking at the blocked out face of a meth lab owner who wanted his equipment back.

These type of reality shows are riveting and viewership is up. I really don't have any idea which one is the best but the personalities of their "stars" is what makes or breaks each one. There are enough people to love and to hate in order to keep each one of the three afloat for at least this summer TV season and I would love to see the Feds raid one of these places for the credit card processing machines and meth labs yet to be uncovered.