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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are fish men a scam

79 replies

MightyMucks · 17/05/2018 17:01

Just had a knock on my door and it was some bloke asking if I wanted to buy any fish. They’re not regular or expected. When I went out there was four men with the van. You’re not gonna sell enough fish to pay four men’s wages surely? AIBU to think it’s a cover for scoping out burglaries.

OP posts:
Original poster
MightyMucks · 17/05/2018 17:26

nomorepills, the article I saw said that they were stealing dogs for dog fights and didn’t do themselves but left markings to indicate to follow up teams a dog was there.

OP posts:
sonjadog · 17/05/2018 17:26

My Mum has a fish man. His fish is really fresh and tasty. I have no idea how to tell a fake from a real fish man, though.

Jammycustard · 17/05/2018 17:26

Some fish men come round my way (East London). They have North East accents. I’ve never bought from them, but see them about once a month, so must be a thing.

Roselind · 17/05/2018 17:27

I fell for this years ago when I was on maternity leave. Bought a load of frozen fish we never ended up eating. Firm no to anyone ever since offering fish.
I guess some are genuine and some are as per the report from West Mercia. There is a van comes once a week to our nearby small town and parks in the street and that seems a better bet.
(love all the fishy puns......)

Despealla · 17/05/2018 17:27

Our local police force have asked previously for people to report fish sellers out of a van in the local area to 101.

umizoomi · 17/05/2018 17:28

This reeks of being dodgy, OP

TuTru · 17/05/2018 17:29

I just meant to alert local police of these ppl in the area. You know for info purposes. If somewhere does get burgled or a white van or 4 blokes are implicated in something else it’s all good for the local intelligence to know. I didn’t say 999 for God’s sake, 101 is hardly a panic number.
Maybe the fish is nicked?
Or meant for pet food only.
4 blokes don’t need to sell fish unless it’s a whale or something...

fleshmarketclose · 17/05/2018 17:34

We have a weekly fish van here. He's been coming for years. Great fish as well. We are as far from the sea that you can get so he gets the fish from Grimsby to sell on his regular route. I'd be suspicious of someone selling as a one off tbh but would be more suspicious that the fish was stilen rather than they were casing the joint so to speak.

Lordamighty · 17/05/2018 17:35

My DM’s is in her 90’s & hasn’t cooked for herself for over 10 years. She lives alone but these con merchants persuaded her to buy £20 worth of fresh fish.

Hygge · 17/05/2018 17:36

We did have a fish man come to the door once and I got very confused. When I opened the door he said "Fishman" and I said "What?" and he said "Fishman" and I said "Nobody of that name lives here."

Anyway it turned out he was selling fish. We also have a Tea Man, who offered to deliver baskets of tea to my door, but they are apparently a real thing.

MumofBoysx2 · 17/05/2018 17:36

If it wasn't a reputable fishmonger that you know the name of then I wouldn't buy it, even if it was genuine - how do you know the strict food hygiene standards have been observed? And they there is the chance of dodgy dealings - as you say 4 people seems a bit overkill for selling a bit of fish. Put a sign up saying no cold callers (if you excuse the pun)

NoMorePills · 17/05/2018 17:36

OP ew that's even worse!!

what a mare.

halfwitpicker · 17/05/2018 17:37

Buggered

Grin
halfwitpicker · 17/05/2018 17:37

We did have a fish man come to the door once and I got very confused. When I opened the door he said "Fishman" and I said "What?" and he said "Fishman" and I said "Nobody of that name lives here."

Grin crying
NKFell · 17/05/2018 17:38

We have a fishman with a refrigerated van with livery, lovely!

x2boys · 17/05/2018 17:41

my mum and dad have a fish man in greater Manchester, .

OlennasWimple · 17/05/2018 17:41

We used to have this in London every month or so - I never bought anything because, let's face it, of all the foods that you want to be sure have been properly stored and prepared it's seafood.

What about the duster men? the ones who are "just out of prison and trying to earn an honest living"? Are they all scams?

BalloonSlayer · 17/05/2018 17:45

My friend buys from the fish man (I always imagine him looking like Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars) and says it's lovely fish.

AhNowTed · 17/05/2018 17:45

It's a scam.

They show you a laminated card with packs of fish, and give you the sales patter.

Only when he brings the fish into your house does he tell you that'll be £190!!

True story Angry Never again

maggienolia · 17/05/2018 17:47

Did he ask for cash on delivery (c.o.d.?)

burdog · 17/05/2018 17:47

Oooh we had the duster/cleaning products men. I think he said he was on parole or on day release, trying to make money to get back into society blah blah. I listened for a bit, realised it was probably a scam (he had a "permit" that was a screwed up piece of A4 paper with a box that said "Insert picture here"), then politely told him I didn't want to buy anything.

I don't begrudge people with criminal records for doing something legitimate to make money, it must be tough to get work or even decent work but I don't appreciate being taken for a mug on my bloody doorstop.

burdog · 17/05/2018 17:49

@Ah Now Ted £190 blimey! Poor you.

mittensofsteel · 17/05/2018 17:49

We have Fishmen here! In Greater London. They are always red faced and out of breath - like they’ve run here with shoals of fish in their coats.

DrDreReturns · 17/05/2018 17:49

I hope you put them in their plaice!

HotSauceCommittee · 17/05/2018 17:50

Is anyone old enough to remember the Super Cockle man in the pub with his wicker basket of cockles? They wore white jackets with a big, muscly, cartoon cockle on the back.