I think my Dad has been scammed... is there anything I can do

94th_Minute

I'm a very rare poster on here, but an often time reader, and you all seem to know your stuff. I'm really hoping you can help me.

Basically, as a breakdown of the situation (as he'll tell it). Two guys turn up at the door asking for directions to the motorway, they say they've been in the area promoting their new watch shop which they were opening a new store for in Bristol:

http://www.princelondon.com/New-Arrivals-Watches

As a offer for his kindness they offered him the chance to buy some watches at a discount rate. In a coincidence they also had a broken credit card and so it would have really helped out if he would buy.

It seems strange to have contact details to go along with a scam. Is there any thoughts on what I can do because he seems devastated by it

Valli

Presumably he bought a watch?

Yes, it's a scam - IMO

Report to the police (then they're aware).

Have you actually contacted the shop/site and asked them?

Tenyearstogo

Confused.

What actually happened?

Did he buy the watches? How did he pay? How has he been scammed?

wealdroam

So, in summary OP, your dad bought a watch from someone.

Is that it?

I am afraid I cannot see where the scam is.
Can you perhaps expand on the story?

Valli

wealdroam wrote: »

So, in summary OP, your dad bought a watch from someone.

Is that it?

I am afraid I cannot see where the scam is.
Can you perhaps expand on the story?

It's sounds like the classic 'we're on our way back to <business name> and we've got these <luxury goods> we could do with offloading/boss says I can sell it/ I would keep it but my <bank card> doesn't work and I need some cash' scam. Sometimes you come across people posting they've been offered <whatever> at motorway services. I'm fairly sure there have been similar threads on here in the past.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/east/series6/car_park_peddlers.shtml

Because they are not luxury goods but poor quality and, of course, you haven't bought from anywhere you can go back to.

OP You could get your dad one of the 'I do not buy at the door' stickers and/or an identity check sticker. Just to warn people off in the future.

arcon5

It's not a 'scam' in the traditional sense. But the story is usually !!!! and ball and designed to play on your emotions to do a deal. Wouldn't be the first time a salesman has spun a line, certainly won't be the last.

And definitely report it.

ILW

He has just bought a cheap watch for quite a lot of money. Nothing actually illegal.

bod1467

ILW wrote: »

Nothing actually illegal.

Unless they were stolen goods. (But OP's Dad hasn't done anything illegal - just to clarify).

real1314

ILW wrote: »

He has just bought a cheap watch for quite a lot of money. Nothing actually illegal.

Ah, so paying £1k for a roof repair that should have been £100 would not be illegal?
It would just be a "cheap" repair for a lot of money?

Or maybe not. By claiming that the watches were worth a lot more than they were, and by charging much more than they are actually worth, there may well be a case of fraud by mis-representation.

But of course that doesn't give people the chance to scoff. :cool:

ILW

real1314 wrote: »

Ah, so paying £1k for a roof repair that should have been £100 would not be illegal?
It would just be a "cheap" repair for a lot of money?

Or maybe not. By claiming that the watches were worth a lot more than they were, and by charging much more than they are actually worth, there may well be a case of fraud by mis-representation.

But of course that doesn't give people the chance to scoff. :cool:

What do you think the actual manufacturing cost of a £5000.00 Rolex is?

I would suspect a few hundred pounds at most.

As long as dad thinks the watch is worth a lot, then it is.

All depends how you define "worth".

ThumbRemote

ILW wrote: »

What do you think the actual manufacturing cost of a £5000.00 Rolex is?

I would suspect a few hundred pounds at most.

As long as dad thinks the watch is worth a lot, then it is.

All depends how you define "worth".

The manufacturing cost is irrelevant.

If, as real1314 says, the watches were misrepresented (eg they are often sold cheaply) or the sellers lied (they aren't opening a watch shop) then this is illegal under the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations.