Lancashire licensee warns of new scam
A Lancashire licensee has warned his fellow hosts to be on the alert for a new scam hitting the trade.
Michael Baines of the Eagle pub in Child Weeton said the cold call scammer tried to get him to hand over £1,600 in cash.
A man, who caled himself Ian Bell and had a Scottish accent, rung the pub and told Baines he was coming to the pub that evening for a surprise birthday party for his wife along with 15 other guests.
"He asked me for a couple of favours," said Baines.
"Firstly could someone come and drop of a cake and presents - not him as he was stuck in a meeting in Wigan - and could I put a couple of bottles of champagne on ice.
"Then came the sting. He said as he was stuck in Wigan, he could not get to the bank to get cash to buy two vans at knockdown prices.
"He asked if I could lend him £1,600 cash until this evening when he would pay me back and let me have £200 more for helping him.
"He wanted me to give the cash to his friend dropping off the cake."
Baines added: "I said I would only do it if he gave me a card payment upfront. Of course he did not have his card as his wife was shopping with it.
"Please make people aware of this scam."
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