how do you protect yourself from potential consequences of getting stolen goods?

This question really applies to any type of scrapping but since I focus on e-scrapping I decided to post it in the electronics recycling forum because maybe there are some things that can be done that are sort of e-waste-specific. I did some searching on the forum but did not find threads that discuss this specifically. But maybe I missed it...

So suppose someone contacts you and says that they have computers they want to get rid of. Maybe they have a couple, maybe a couple of hundred. Maybe they want you to pay for them, or they are willing to give them to you for free. Someone that you have never done business with but that sounds legit. It's not a computer repair shop or an IT company, just someone with a pile of computers.

So one way or another his computer stash is now yours. You are driving home happy thinking of all that gold you are going to rip out of those computer towers...

But how do you know that these computers are not stolen? What do you do to (i) avoid getting "tainted" stuff in the first place and (ii) protect yourself from any potential fallout in case you don't know the origins of the hardware but the offer is too attractive to pass it by?

One caveat here is I am looking for suggestions that are better suited for a small-scale guy "with a van and a basement" like myself rather than for a large e-scrapping operation.

One e-waste specific thing is handling very carefully (e.g. destroying) any harddrives that one gets. But what about the rest of the stuff: towers, laptops, servers etc?

That's a touchy subject there fella. With as many scenarios as you used, some might twist it to the point of thinking you're wondering how to get by with it. The main point in any case is make sure not to get involved with shady deals or shady people. I doubt anyone would steal computers just to give them away. In most cases, with due diligence, one can begin to discern whether a potential customer is being honest

Keep a log of what you pick up and where.

Seriously, I've had to start doing that. Even though I'm a "small-timer", I now have to list where I got hazardous waste (CRT tubes) that I take to a commercial electronics recycler. So now I get contact information for all electronics I pick up. I don't list every piece, but list stuff in a general way so I'll be able to tell where it came from (ie: "box of chargers").

Next time you go to a larger scrap yard, read the disclaimer. "I certify that the goods sold are......blah blah. Take info like DL photo if you really think it's to good to be true and have just a blank form where you fill in the quantity and material purchased, amount paid and get a signature. That's how larger corps protect themselves, what's good for the goose........

I have a disclaimer that every customer has to sign stating that they are either the legal owner or have the authority to dispose of anything we take away.

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Originally Posted by Bear

some might twist it to the point of thinking you're wondering how to get by with it.

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Hmm, that's an interesting angle, I did not think of that... :)

I'm working on making a hybrid invoice/agreement, perhaps similar to what Burly Guys has where the customer signs off saying that it is their property or they are allowed to give it away. Another thing I will include on the form is an "Indemnification" and "Release of Liability"

specially when it gets to the i & ii. If you'll look at the ii a bit closer you might wanna try and rephase that somehow