This week's door-to-door money scam...?

[teuchter]

Vauxhall mum's idea is good but here's a better one:


If he comes to the door using the "mother in hospital" excuse, then tell him you've just given your last tenner to a guy who has a sister who needs insulin.

He'll probably be wandering the streets looking for someone who's ripped off his idea

Both solutions involve opening the door, however.

Perhaps a "no insulin/hospital/taxi scams please, Jamie" sticker to go next to the "no junk mail" one that everyone ignores anyway.

 

[brucenbart]

Had a letter from Brixton police about a 'Jamie' knocking on peoples doors Brixton Hill area. For the benefit of the rest of society call the police if one of these scam artists knocks on your door - they might do something about it. The posters on this forum are savvy enough not to get ripped off, however my 80 year neighbours were not.

 

[Ol Nick]

Just had Jamie round so thanks for the tip. I didn't waste to much of my Sunday working out if he was serious.

Is there a non-time consuming way to report this kind of thing to the police then? I suppose they could just keep an eye on this thread.

 

[teuchter]

Just had Jamie round so thanks for the tip. I didn't waste to much of my Sunday working out if he was serious.

Is there a non-time consuming way to report this kind of thing to the police then? I suppose they could just keep an eye on this thread.

Not sure quite what the police would be able to do about this, though.

 

[teuchter]

The posters on this forum are savvy enough not to get ripped off, however my 80 year neighbours were not.

That's awful. Trying to scam a few quid off someone like me is one thing; picking on vulnerable people is another.

 

[clandestino]

Yeah, the guy who knocked on our door at the weekend called himself Jamie...

*sigh*

Jamie paid me a visit at 5am this morning. I should have read this thread earlier.

 

[clandestino]

He said "You know me...I'm Jamie from number 42." Said he owned the tire place on Brixton Hill.

I don't envy his hours.

 

[brucenbart]

Hmm,

Reoprt them. - Brixton polices number is 0207 326 1212. They usually answer within 2 mins.

Just had another scam artist at the door. Women, looks 40 (could be 25 and a serious drug habit) dark hair trousers and a poncho. Said she needed help with her taxi fare to visit her grandmother who lives on my road.

These scum bags do not differtitate between those who can afford and those who can't - they make most of their money from the most vulnerable.

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

crap scam, he'd be able to ring someone at the bbc, surely at least try and make it look authentic

Yeah, but then they'd have to send out another driver (and they might be booked up, he might have to wait a while till another driver arrives with some money).

If he has to wait for someone else to come and help him out, he might end up being too late to pick up an interview guest who might miss their interview time slot.

 

[gaijingirl]

Yeah, but then they'd have to send out another driver (and they might be booked up, he might have to wait a while till another driver arrives with some money).

If he has to wait for someone else to come and help him out, he might end up being too late to pick up an interview guest who might miss their interview time slot.

yeah but but... he could at least get someone famous on the phone - someone with a really recognizable voice - say Jeremy Paxman or similar, to explain why it is that the BBC have absolutely no back-up plan, secondary taxi system or other way to get their guest, who must be on an incredibly tight LIVE-TV schedule to the studios in record time and thus it is necessary for Joe Bloggs at no. 4 Fuckwit Terrace to pay a random stranger - purporting to be a professional BBC driver - for his petrol!

 

[piratetv]

Jamie "from 2 doors down who owned the tyre place on Brixton Hill" called on me too and was insisting that i knew him

Didn't get aggressive tho when i told him NO I don't know you at all so you better go away before i let the dogs out

 

[TopCat]

I had a silly idiot knocking a few weeks back in Croydon, this lass wanted cash to feed her kids breakfast. I asked if she had spunked all her cash on smack again as she is always lolling about pinned near the Whitgift Centre. She gobbed in my direction which was rather offensive. I had to really try hard not to be horrible back.

 

[Jografer]

Had similar a couple of times in Bristol, & offered a lift rather than cash, had a similar response to others here....

Couple of months ago I had this very dodgy looking (& pissed) guy at the front door wanting to borrow a hammer...

 

[Giles]

I had a silly idiot knocking a few weeks back in Croydon, this lass wanted cash to feed her kids breakfast. I asked if she had spunked all her cash on smack again as she is always lolling about pinned near the Whitgift Centre. She gobbed in my direction which was rather offensive. I had to really try hard not to be horrible back.

I think if someone gobbed at me I would lose my cool somewhat and kick them all over the place. That really isn't called for.

Giles..

 

[TopCat]

I'm sexist and can't hit women, the flob did not hit me either. It is mucky to get gobbed at though, I would prefer a punch!

 

[brixtonvilla]

Is this guy white, slim/medium build, late 30s early/40s, short light brown-ish hair? If not, I may have sent a genuinely needy case away the other night...

*loses sleep*

 

[vauxhallmum]

On Wednesday 12th December, my neighbours ( in ahem..Vauxhall) were visited by two fake policemen. They said they wanted to 'Check the house had not had a burglary'. They were equipped to open front doors and possess false ID.
Kennington Police are aware of this but keep a look out and tell your neighbours.

 

[vauxhallmum]

Yes, I know it's not Brixton but near enough.

 

[teuchter]

Is this guy white, slim/medium build, late 30s early/40s, short light brown-ish hair? If not, I may have sent a genuinely needy case away the other night...

*loses sleep*

Yes that sounds like him.

Yu can sleep at night again now.

 

[brixtonvilla]

*sleeps*

 

[Geoffers]

I had the need-money-for-taxi scam at my door last night. This time to get his wife to hospital as she was in labour. Funny, as I'm sure there's some sort of free 'taxi' service to get people to hospital in a hurry

11:45 on a Sunday night; a guy calling himself Dave (or, 'you know me, I'm your neighbour!') in case he uses that name again.

I seem to get hit by these at Christmas time, and - judging by the dates of the comments above - perhaps it is a juicy time for these con-men: when we're all feeling generous and festive! I wonder what they do for money the rest of the year.

 

[jb78]

yup, he was round mine as well.

"i'm staying with ---- next door, my wife's just gone into labour, i need 20quid to get a taxi to romford hospital"

he actually knew my neighbour's name as well, which made it a bit more believable. but then he asked my name as soon as he knocked on my door, so he'd probably just been round there as well!

needless to say, i sent him packing.