Police blame hit TV show after shoppers scammed
The stars of the BBC's the Real Hustle
CON artists have swindled thousands of pounds out of victims in Edinburgh by using a scam which was demonstrated on the BBC show The Real Hustle.
Police are investigating a dozen cases where bargain-hunters were duped into buying a cut-price laptop that later turned out to be a bogus package in a “pitch and switch” swindle.
The trick is the same as one highlighted on the popular BBC Three programme in which professional scammers expose the shady tricks used to fleece the public.
While the police are aware of the link, the BBC has denied its programme encourages criminality.
Since October, the scammers have netted at least £2500, but police believe this total may be the tip of the iceberg, with many victims too embarrassed to come forward.
Shoppers at Meadowbank, Cameron Toll, Leith, Portobello and the Tollcross area have been targeted by two men offering electronic items for a quick sale.
They are led to a nearby van and shown the product and, after agreeing a fee, the conmen then hand over a bag later found to contain cardboard and water bottles.
DS John Graham, who is investigating the fraud, said he believed the scam had been featured on the TV show, fronted by Paul Wilson.
“I have not seen the programme but this [scam] was portrayed on that programme I believe,” he said. “There’s always a danger with television programmes that if you show criminal activity enough times you are going to show best practice to criminals.
“At the start of the inquiry, the first part of one of the documents I have seen said this modus operandi was shown on that programme.”
DS Graham added: “There’s a good chance they are the same group of people who are performing this scam in the west of Scotland and in northern England.
“The victims are shown fake documentation relating to the goods and leave confident that they have made a bargain purchase. They are then left devastated when they discover that they have parted with their money for nothing,” he said.
David McLetchie, Conservative MSP for Lothian, said: “BBC Three seems to be running an open university for criminals as far as this show is concerned. The law-abiding viewers are going to have to pay as much attention to this programme as the criminals.”
A BBC spokesman said: “It is completely wrong to suggest The Real Hustle promotes criminal behaviour. This is a well-known real scam. The series sets out to highlight such scams and to give viewers all the information they need to protect themselves.”
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Comments
There are 39 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
137guy
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:59 PMDavid McLetchie, Conservative MSP for Lothian, said: “BBC Three seems to be running an open university for criminals. is that the best he can come up with???? the next thing you know the tory mps will be putting in fake expences claims and saying it was because they seen it on the news. get a grip the scum who were scammed in this case are as bad if not worse than the scammers at least the scammers had an ounce of brain matter that works. also is there such a law as attempting to handle stolen goods. if so do the idiots
Mark Bishop
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:04 PMI wonder how stupid these people really are. Ever heard of buying a Pig in a Poke? However, we can all rest assured that those who bought all that lovely cardboard will think twice and become good honest upright citizens who will never attempt to buy anything suspect ever again. Lesson learned (hopefully).
Tintock Pete
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:42 PMIt happened to a friend of mine who didn't report it.
EbeneezerGood
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:31 PMI've just finished watching Oceans 11 and heading off to RBS at Gogarburn........shhhhhhhhh, mums the word everyone!
Simonsaid
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:01 PM“Police blame hit TV show after shoppers scammed” ================================================== The plods got it wrong – The wans tae blame fur bein scammed ur the wans thit wis scammed – Serves them right fur being sae desperate tae get something fur next tae nothing they got loads o nothing insteed. Next time they will open the bag and make sure thit whit they goat is whit they boat
searchanddestroy
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:28 PMOn second thoughts maybe its not a subject that is best suited to the investigative journalism espoused by Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein. It looks far more suited to Hunter S Thompson because its clearly gonzo !!
searchanddestroy
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:06 PMThe standard of investigative journalism here leaves a lot to be desired. Whoever wrote this is hardly Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein (watergate reporters in case you ask). Surely the big story here that needs to be tackled wrt these crimes is the allegation that the girl in the picture has had her back door kicked in several times in the past !
escape from spam valley
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:56 PMSomebodies stolen the back of that young lady's dress....
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:37 PMDavid McLetchie, Conservative MSP for Lothian, said: “BBC Three seems to be running an open university for criminals.." ............................................................................................................................Whereas BBC Parliament is an open university for publicity-seeking blowhards.
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:35 PM#7: centuries. The phrase "Pig In A Poke" comes from exactly the same scam.
A Friend of Fernando Poo
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:32 PMAnyone who buys from the back of a van knows damn well that it's going to be dodgy. The scammers rely on their greed subsuming their wariness. I was a fan of The Real Hustle and it's made me more wary of various situations.
View From The Shed
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:28 PMThe old advice still stands good.If it sounds too good to be true...... then it probably is!!! If you,re daft enough to buy something in the street or in a pub from someone you don,t know then you should,nt be devastated if it turns out to be rubbish.
Xena - Warrior Princess
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:23 PMThis must be the first time I have looked at the comments here and find everyone agreeing. You don't buy a laptop out of the back of a van and think it is legit.
THIS IS SPARTA
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:23 PMIt used to be 'quality' hi fi speakers sold from a van. They were of course merely the speakers minus the working parts. A fool and his money etc.....
jasbar
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:23 PMThere's no such thing as a free lunch. Those who are too embarrassed to come forward to admit they were scammed are the sensible ones. Those scammed were trying to benefit from someone else's misfortune. Any potential bargain would have to have been stolen. perhaps they should have been charged with attempted reset. A fool and his money ....
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