BEWARE! Blackpool Seafront Scam

patchwork_cat

HI
I am surprised that people think that this wouldn't happen in Blackpool - that is v naive IMO Exactly were is it going to happen if not there? I am from Blackpool and the season attracts lots of people wanting to get rich on the grokles!

Nosskibird_2

Woby_Tide wrote: »

I was also scammed in a similar way not so long ago. I managed to get the money back though using a foolproof plan I obtained from a friend later.

If you PM me £10 I'll guarantee you get your money back(actually make it £30 and I'll throw in an Eeyore)

LMAO had to laugh at this one. :T

Nosskibird_2

saintscouple wrote: »

Nosskibird, Thank you so much for posting this and warning others.
It takes courage to post how you were led into this, and i applaud you for warning others so they don't fall into the same trap.

Please ignore the irresponsiable remarks from others, you were wrongly hustled into giving more money, and for this reason would urge you to send an email to Blackpool Trading Standards who's responsibility it is to control these traders, for which they require a permit to trade. Their email address is [EMAIL="tradstand@blackpool.gov.uk"]tradstand@blackpool.gov.uk[/EMAIL].

We all like a little gamble when at the seaside to win a big cuddly toy, but to hustle you again and again is wrong.
Unfortunatley, with the number of people holidaying in the uk rapidly decreasing, I can only see the situation getting worse as the traders to try to make up short-falls. This is why i urge you to send that email, as i would suspect they are in breach of their permit.

Thanks again for sharing

Thanks, I totally agree. I emailed Blackpool Council yesterday and Consumer First have passed the complaint onto Trading standards for me.

Dumbledore55

I live near Blackpool and it IS a scam because its physically impossible to win. However, they know their job and they play first on your gullibility and then on your desperation to get your money back.

I have a friend who works for the Council and I know they are interested in this hoopla stall. Its a Trading Standartds issue and I 'm told they have already confiscated several sets of equipment off them but they keep returning with more. Each time they have to prove that the equipment is rigged otherwise its not an offence. You are right to report it to the Council but probably a bit late for them to prove the equipment used to con you was rigged.

My mother taught me never to gamble what I can't afford to lose.......so I NEVER gamble.

I'm sorry you were conned but I'm sure its taught you a lesson you'll never forget and you clearly want to share that with others.

freebie_junkie

Strepsy wrote: »

I got conned by travellers once and looking back on it now, it's glaringly obvious it was a scam, and it's really humiliating to think back to it but at the time it's like someone mentioned, they know how to turn the screws, they're professionals at it. I had their van registration, their mobile phone number, the police didn't want to know. So do have comfort that you're not the only one but by sharing at least you could help someone else avoid the same trap.

Don't tar all Travellers with the same brush.

The_Kaiser

Discodee wrote: »

blimey! That's terrible. We were in Blackpool last week. We go every year but we never have a go at these games. Not worth it. Why would they give you £50 a bottle of bubbly and a cuddly toy? A proper operator couldn't afford to do that.

Good of you to come and warn people though mate. Hope it didn't spoil your time there too much. Police in Blackpool are more concerned with catching motorists (Have you seen all the speed cameras????) than catching criminals

Have to agree about driving in Blackpool. Visited last October and received a £30 parking fine plus £60 + 3 points for speeding (36 miles in a 30 zone). Won't be back.

Nosskibird_2

The_Kaiser wrote: »

Have to agree about driving in Blackpool. Visited last October and received a £30 parking fine plus £60 + 3 points for speeding (36 miles in a 30 zone). Won't be back.

Whoops! As i've been before I knew we were going to have a nightmare parking. We paid £18 between 5 of us to park under a CCTV camera outside our B&B owner's other premises for 3 nights. As for the speed cameras the seafront was that busy we couldn't get above 5mph!:o

Nosskibird_2

saintscouple wrote: »

Nosskibird, Thank you so much for posting this and warning others.
It takes courage to post how you were led into this, and i applaud you for warning others so they don't fall into the same trap.

Please ignore the irresponsiable remarks from others, you were wrongly hustled into giving more money, and for this reason would urge you to send an email to Blackpool Trading Standards who's responsibility it is to control these traders, for which they require a permit to trade. Their email address is [EMAIL="tradstand@blackpool.gov.uk"]tradstand@blackpool.gov.uk[/EMAIL].

We all like a little gamble when at the seaside to win a big cuddly toy, but to hustle you again and again is wrong.
Unfortunatley, with the number of people holidaying in the uk rapidly decreasing, I can only see the situation getting worse as the traders to try to make up short-falls. This is why i urge you to send that email, as i would suspect they are in breach of their permit.

Thanks again for sharing

I just had a call from Trading Standards who are fully aware of the hoopla stall and are working very hard to close them down. Apparently someone lost over £1000 for a teddy! It shows that for us not-so-sassy shoppers complaining to them works and builds up a case file.

robnye

is this a joke, you continued paying money over to these guys without thinking that you wherent going to win......

reality check........... surely if your wallet is empty, why go and withdraw more cash to then pass over to them...........

saintscouple

Nosskibird wrote: »

I just had a call from Trading Standards who are fully aware of the hoopla stall and are working very hard to close them down. Apparently someone lost over £1000 for a teddy! It shows that for us not-so-sassy shoppers complaining to them works and builds up a case file.

Well Done you,
At least now you can have closure on this.