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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:
astoundedgoat · 17/05/2018 17:51

We used to live in Morocco and there was a fish man. He used to come around the derbs in 45 degree heat (!!!). Madly, he used to do quite well, but you could hear the CATS before you could hear him - they would trail along after him.

Aeroflotgirl · 17/05/2018 17:52

I remember in the. 80s a local fish van used to come round and see, fish, woukd it be one of those.

bluerunningshoes · 17/05/2018 17:53

in our area they sell stolen fish.

they usially say they are x-offenders (haha) 'building a business'
or delivering to a resaurant who cancelled their order
...

x2boys · 17/05/2018 17:53

I think I do Hot sauce did they used to come around last orders?

CremeBrulee · 17/05/2018 17:56

Hello Police? Yes there are 4 men in a van trying to sell me fish!

What's that, you're scrambling the police helicopter now?

NoMorePills · 17/05/2018 18:07

bluerunningshoes "in our area they sell stolen fish"

I feel like the world has reached a level of complication I can't cope with. I realise that selling stolen fish has probably been going on since the beginning of fish but even so....!

NachoFries · 17/05/2018 18:07

Hmm, something smells fishy 🤔 It cod be a scam, I mean anyfin can be possible. Methinks I need to mullet over because I’ve been herring rumors about town about some fishy business indeed. If you find out for sure, let minnow. Hopefully salmon will let you know the porpoise of the visit.

BuntyII · 17/05/2018 18:09

According to Facebook, anyone who calls at your house, or drives a van is a dog thief.

CitySnicker · 17/05/2018 18:11

Mum buys from a fish van, a bacon boy and, until about 15 years ago, a tea man too 😊

umizoomi · 17/05/2018 18:12

Jeez AhNowTed

£190?! You were done up like a kipper there

PickAChew · 17/05/2018 18:13

I'm pretty sure the last ones we had were the same guys who came round a month previously selling offcuts of carpet.

PretABoire · 17/05/2018 18:14

We always reckon this kind of stuff has been nicked off a delivery van

scurryfunge · 17/05/2018 18:17

This scampi happening.

RosaRosaRose · 17/05/2018 18:29

Grin I had a friend who lived on a huge estate and she reckoned you could almost do your weekly shop buying at the front door. couple or three sales and straight to the local dealer

RosaRosaRose · 17/05/2018 18:31

Anyone else got the Fishing Bait World at the top of the page. Clever stuf Grin Grin Grin

PandaPacer · 17/05/2018 18:37

GrinGrin Best laugh ever at a fish thread.

Thanks for the heads up OP re fish men scammers. I am a sucker for buying food from non-supermarket sources so probably would have fallen for this!

Hygge · 17/05/2018 18:38

@halfwit he kind of blinked at me and said, very slowly, "Fish. Man. I'm selling fish."

Now when I think of it I remind myself of that scene on Bottom where they scream "Gas Man!" at each other and thank god I wasn't that bad. Grin

givemesteel · 17/05/2018 18:43

I'm enjoying the fish puns Grin

But yes, for some stupid reason I bought some fish from one of these vans a couple of years ago bought some mackerel which afterwards I realised after I paid about double the supermarket price for.

I'm much more selective about who I open the door to now as these sort of door to door sales, duster men etc seem to have proliferated. I don't know if they're scams or scoping for burglaries but either way I don't want to encourage it. If there's no delivery van outside I don't open the door.

BlueBug45 · 17/05/2018 18:54

@CremeBrulee if the OP has the licence of the van and can describe at least one of the men it's worth ringing 101.

We have people who deliver and sell food stuff doorstep here but they leaflet you first with an idea of prices before they come round in vans either company name on.

AnneElliott · 17/05/2018 19:06

Our neighbours have a fish man. Apparently he selling some sort of illegal fish that they like - not sure what it is as I don't eat fish. Thought it was odd that they mentioned that. They always offer to have something out in their bill but I decline.

I have had the white van man scam with fish though. Told them I was allergic but so hard to get rid of them!

walchesterweasel · 17/05/2018 19:22

This happened to my 88 year old aunt last week , I was floored when she told me she had agreed to buy - not like her at all. It was a box full , started at £45 but gave her an 'offer' of £25 . I hope they don't become regular. I did see a wet fish stand at the boot sale the other week , that would be a definite no from me !

CremeBrulee · 17/05/2018 19:33

@bluebug45 what an utter waste of police time!

Log it Hmm

Despealla · 17/05/2018 19:36

@cremebrulee our local police station ask people to ring 101 with details of these sellers, ops might also. So some forces encourage it.

CremeBrulee · 17/05/2018 19:39

But they haven't actually done anything wrong? Just asked the OP to buy fish...

We have a fish man who comes round every couple of months. It's not illegal.

HemanOrSheRa · 17/05/2018 19:43

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. I am HotSauce! Ours sold prawns in seafood sauce and crab sticks (bleugh) too.