A Tennessee music shop owner says scammers used stolen credit cards and an Uber pickup to take nearly $10,000 worth of guitars from his store.
Zack Brooks, owner of Zack’s Music Shop in Dickson, said the order came in by phone on June 17, according to WSMV. The caller bought three of the shop’s most expensive guitars and said they were gifts for his father.
At first, the payment did not look like a problem. Brooks said the cards went through, which made the order appear legitimate at the register.
About 20 minutes later, an Uber driver arrived to pick up the guitars. Brooks said the size of the purchase and the delivery arrangement raised enough concern that he contacted local dispatch to ask whether similar scams had been reported.
The Guitars Were Sent To A Hotel
Dickson music shop loses $10K in scam, owner says https://t.co/4kAob4m9c1
— WSMV 4 Nashville (@WSMV) June 25, 2026
Brooks told WSMV he spoke with the Uber driver, who delivered the guitars to a hotel. Investigators believe someone working with the caller then picked them up there.
Brooks said the Uber driver did not know about the alleged scam. That detail shows how the scheme kept the person placing the order away from the store. The caller did not have to walk in, show identification, or match the card used for payment.
The next day, Brooks said a woman from the Memphis area contacted the shop and told him her credit card had been used without her permission. She said she was nowhere near the store and did not play an instrument.
Dickson police confirmed to WSMV that the case is under investigation.
The Missing Guitars Are Easy To Recognize
Brooks said the stolen instruments are two Cole Clark acoustic guitars and a vintage Gibson four-string tenor guitar from the 1960s.
The Gibson may be the easiest one to spot. Brooks described it as a brown acoustic four-string tenor guitar from the 1960s.
Since the loss, Brooks said he has been watching Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Reverb, and eBay. He has also asked pawn shops and other music stores to watch for the guitars.
Brooks said the shop’s location near the interstate adds another concern. The instruments could stay local, but they could also be moved quickly to another city or state.
The Store Changed Its Rules After The Scam
Zack’s Music Shop has stopped taking phone orders, Brooks told WSMV. The store is also adding more verification steps for large purchases.
For expensive orders, Brooks said the person who places the order should be the person who picks it up. He also said that person should have to prove their identity and match the card used for payment.
Anyone who sees the guitars listed for sale is asked to contact Zack’s Music Shop or Dickson police.