The scam begins with a man entering a targeted pub, who speaks with an Irish accent and asks for money to sponsor the rugby team at local universities in return for a small advert in programmes.
Licensees have said the man speaks with an Irish accent and asks for money to sponsor the rugby team at local universities in return for a small advert in programmes.
He asks for £100 and provides a handwritten receipt along with an email address and phone number for licensees to contact.
Be aware
General manager at the Pig and Fiddle in Bath, Alex Gough, said: “It seemed quite unusual as he was asking for cash up front but it isn’t too unusual and he seemed to have a number of pubs already on the list that had already paid.
“Just be aware that these things do happen and I will never pay cash up front without relevant paperwork.”
Assistant manager at the Rising Sun Inn, Bath, Jenny Brown, said: “We are one of the pubs that have been affected. A young Irish guy turned up and said he was doing some sort of charity rugby game and looking for new sponsorship.
“It all sounded very convincing and Bath being a big rugby city, you do all you can to help. He said they were trying to organise events in August but we never heard from him.”
Kitchen porter at the Grace in Bristol, Joe Talbot, also said the man had approached the pub: “I was a bit suspect of it but we thought he was blagging. From experience and instinct, I just thought things were slightly off.”
Reports
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Police have had a report of fraud at a pub in Bristol and have information that licensees at other premises in Bristol and also in Bath may have been affected. However, officers have had no other formal reports of similar incidents."
Any pubs that have been approached in a similar manner or have information on the fraudster can contact the police at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact, or by call 101, quoting reference 5216178380.