Vile scammers have attempted to cash in on the nation’s excitement over the easing of lockdown and the reopening of pubs by putting up false advertisements to sell off hospitality bookings.
Yesterday, one conman took to Craigslist to say they had booked all the slots at the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill, south London, between 12th April and 18th – the first week of pubs opening in England.
In the now deleted post, the fraudster wrote they had ‘taken the liberty’ of booking all the slots from ’12 to close’.
Vile scammers have attempted to cash in on the nation’s excitement over the easing of lockdown and the reopening of pubs by putting up false advertisements to sell off hospitality bookings. Yesterday, one conman took to Craigslist to say they had booked all the slots at the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill, south London, between 12th April and 18th – the first week of pubs opening in England
They added anyone who wanted to buy it back will be charged £15 per booking.
Fullers, who own the pub, have said it is a scam.
Currently the Half Moon’s website is only advertising booking dates from 17th May, when restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars can reopen for indoor dining. They will open in April for outdoor service.
The listing was spotted by food journalist Ben Parker, who took to Twitter to write, ‘Whoa… is this for real? Diabolical!’
Currently the Half Moon’s website is only advertising booking dates from 17th May, when restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars can reopen for indoor dining
Fuller’s then replied to the tweet writing: ‘Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. It’s a scam and we’ve reported it’.
Furious at the scam many replied calling the fraudsters ‘disgusting’.
‘I’d pay £15 to pour my (second) pint of Guinness over the profiteer’s head,’ said one.
Fullers, who own the pub, have said it is a scam.hank you so much for bringing this to our attention. It’s a scam and we’ve reported it,’ they wrote on Twitter.
‘People who do this need culling,’ added another.
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‘He certainly does seem to be taking liberties, in a Lock, Stock sense,’ wrote a third.
FEMAIL has contacted Craiglist for comment.
A spokesperson for Fuller’s said: ‘It’s disgusting that scammers are trying to profit from pubs reopening and we were horrified to see this appear online.
‘We are very grateful to Jay Rayner for bringing this to our attention. We reported it immediately and we believe it has been taken down.
Boris Johnson has unveiled his lockdown exit strategy with rules due to start being lifted from March 8
‘Pubs have had a horrendous year and, across our estate, our teams just can’t wait to welcome our customers back and restore their pubs to the hearts of their communities, where they belong.”
The original full post reads: ‘Pubs are back in early April. I have taken the liberty of procuring all the bookings at the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill, SE24 9HU, from 12- Close, in the date range: April 12th-18th.
‘Love it, or hate it, now you must pay for it.
‘If you would like to enjoy our local pub with us, please get in touch, ASAP.
‘First come first serve. Serious inquiries only. £15 per booking. Email-only to qualify each interested party.
It comes after Boris Johnston announced the ‘roadmap’ to getting out of lockdown this week.
The Prime Minster revealed pubs and restaurants will open for outdoor service ‘no earlier’ than April 12.
From May 17, the rule of six will be scrapped outdoors and restaurants and pubs will be able to open indoors – with all restrictions likely to be lifted from June 21st.
Source: Food Recipes and News
