to think this is a fake Chester Zoo ticket? Seriously, is it fake!?

[user1469643462]

Yeah, I think we all know now, but is there like a 1% chance any form of ticket looks like this!?!?

This is basically a follow on too

Definitely fraud and child whereabouts issues, a little call to 101 and a chat with a nice officer is defo needed, what if she does this again and something goes wrong/happens to kids in her care and parents have no idea where they are it's very worrying is be going nuts now xx hugs op xx

I dunno, by investigating herself surely she could compromise any 'evidence'? Police will speak to other clients - even if op is a one off, it's still a crime

If anything it's a civil matter because she's been billed for a service she did not receive.

I'm just astounded people live in such insulated bubbles they'd have time to waste on this.

Dont tell her! She has chance to cover it up then/tell all other parents you are a loon etc!

OP, what are you going to do? Give us an update re: talking to the CM! I NEED to know her response.

I wonder if she knows yet?

Perhaps if you have any payments outstanding you could give it to her in Monopoly money? Tell her she can use it on her next trip to the zoo.

Sorry OP, I know we're all having a bit of a giggle at the barefaced ridiculousness of the way your CM is handling this, but I think we do all appreciate that the situation itself isn't at all funny. It must be very frustrating. I really hope you manage to sort out some alternative childcare without too many issues - good luck!!!

Intentional deception makes it a criminal offence afaik?

Oh no op we knew it but still feel for you. Great suggestions from bishop though. I hope you do involve the other parents in the decision where to go from here the fraud could have been going on for ages for some of them

Even if yo don't want to involve the police at the very least you need to advise Ofsted and the local authority child safeguarding team. It may seem like a little matter to make a mistake over which child went where or to try and make a little extra money for a trip not taken but in terms of safeguarding it is incredibly serious. Even more so because she has continued to lie and accused the child of lying. Please make sure you report her she should not be working with children.

Fraud by false accounting.
Obtaining money by deception
Production of a "ticket" with intent to deceive

How is any of that civil?

If op gave HMRC the "ticket" as evidence of child care costs I doubt they would just laugh and forget about it.

Shit user, what a pickle to be in.

I hope you find some resolution. The money would hack me off but the way she treated your ds as stupid is worse!

Just seen Chester zoo have confirmed its a fake! Now what to do with lying cm? And truth telling dc!

Do the other parents know now? They must be raging too! So sorry you are going through the this OP but please speak to the other mums, you'll all be in the same boat so might be able to help with emergency childcare.

How is your son doing by the way? After all this he must be pretty confused. And not a nice way for him to learn that some adults will outright lie to him, but at least he can see his mum supports and believes him.

Message from CZ

Hi Mariska,

No, that's not an authentic ticket for the zoo. All of our official tickets include a barcode that we can scan on entry.

Many thanks,

CZ

I bet the CM is shitting herself. How could she think you would fall for that ticket!

The Zoo are going to get some good publicity out of this!

Definitely call the police, it's theft!

I'm betting that now CM will simply say she DID take him to the zoo but lost the ticket, when OP asked for it she panicked because she knew OP didn't believe her and so 'made' a ticket. Right back to square one.

Oh OP you have to let us know what cm face is like when you tell you know she is lying. How awful for you to have to deal with this.
Do you think they went to the Wrexham Museum?? They have lots of the things your son talked about.

To put this 'fraud' into perspective from the police's point of view: I work with a police fraud team from time to time through my work. I come across frauds which involve large amounts of public funding and faked qualifications which can have a big knock on effect on things like immigration and safety of people in the workplace. Often there is evidence of other sundry frauds being committed against the general public (think skimming, card fraud, postal fraud, online fraud).

Even for quite major frauds like that processing of 'evidence' is limited, investigation often involves being given an appointment in 3-6 months time and there's no guarantee anything will be taken forward if the resources aren't there to do it.

Even quite systematic large scale frauds aren't followed up.

The idea that the police are going to be interested in this and examining the 'evidence' is just laughable TBH.

Maybe the cm produced the obviously fake ticket because she couldn't believe this mountain out of a molehill was still going on. As I said on the other thread, if she was intent on lying or cheating she would have covered her tracks a lot better!

Thanks to those who helped with the FB link

Sorry you are going through this. Is there any way to let the other families know? Such an expensive day out - ridiculous - buy to lie as well!!!

Hope you can find decent alternative child care

Ok bill, but whether they think it is worth pursuing is for them to decide, not you

Saying that big crimes go unpunished so small ones shouldn't be reported is ridiculous.