Warning to other small businesses in Central London

Yesterday, we had what turned out to be a very unwelcome visitor at our offices. We are on the 3rd floor of a multi-occupancy building in which there are currently only 2 tenants – us and another company in the basement. A well-dressed man in his 60s appeared at our door on the 3rd floor claiming to be from a company that was previously a tenant (but whose name still appears on the doorbell outside and who still have boxes and files stored in the building).

He said that they were moving their stuff out and they had some cases of champagne left over from a corporate event. Did we want some Bollinger Cuvee 2007 at £200 a case when it’s normally £700 a case?

Now, I am not particularly fond of champagne so I declined. The chap then said did I know anyone that might be interested. As it happens, I have a friend who runs a business a few doors down the same street and who I know does like champagne and indeed collects fine wines. I naturally gave the guy my friend’s details – thinking I was doing both a favour.

He engaged me in some social chit chat during which we talked about rugby and cricket and off he went down the road.

A few minutes later he re-appeared and told me that whilst my friend wasn’t in, another occupier of his office had purchased some champagne and could he possibly “borrow one of your lads to help me move the boxes”. I agreed to this and instructed one of my team to help him.

Half an hour later I get a call from the “purchaser” asking when the man is coming back with the champagne.

It subsequently transpired that he had gone to the office down the road, told the person that he was a mate of my friend and me from the rugby and cricket clubs and that we recommended buying some champagne. Totally taken in by this apparent personal referral, the person handed over £800 for 4 cases of champagne. He said he’d just go and get it and, needless to say, he disappeared into thin air.

The whole thing was very very clever. He had a credible story, built trust and rapport with me and others and was both charming and entirely believable.

Last night it was eating away at me that I inadvertently sent this guy off to con a neighbour and almost been a victim myself. So I Googled “champagne con” and hey presto came up with these 3 links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3088287.stm

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3955893.print/

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,642977

I will leave you to draw your own conclusions based on what you read in those links. I know what I think.

So, please don’t get caught out. Be on your guard and if you see or hear of this happening again, report it straight to the police.

Update – 23rd July 2011

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017996/Bottle-Bolly-Police-hunt-Champagne-Charlie-scammed-thousands-offering-cut-price-deals.html

Update – 29th July 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14238564