To think many fell for the Captain Tom scam

[Binjob118]

I never understood all the fuss about Captain Tom. A rich old man walked around his garden and was lauded as a hero. Family then go on freebie holiday to Barbados whilst rest of us were locked down for Christmas. Then it turns out he was part of family scam to pay the family from book proceeds. No wonder so many people in this country are targeted by scammers, we are a gullible lot.

I sort of zoned him about a bit at the time (and since), because I have a tendency to do that with anything the media loves. So mine might not be the most informed post.

It sounds as though he was genuine in his intentions, but the family were on the make (or perhaps rationalised that “we deserve it” 🙄). And the media really don’t help with this sort of thing.

Maybe he did think it was nice to give his family a holiday? We’ll probably never know. But it sounds like he meant to do a nice thing.

But yes some old bloke walking round his garden rather than criticising them was surely exactly what the govt wanted to publicise.

The whole captain Tom shtick was a big con rather like covid lockdowns.
Don’t fall for it again.

You might, I wouldn't. And I'm guessing the daughter probably feels the same now her reputation is trashed.

I can speculate if I choose to do so thanks, it’s a discussion forum.

Regarding Barbados, in his own book Tom said

I am also often asked if I have a ‘bucket list’, and although there are a few places I have said I might hope to visit, I’ve done almost all that I want to do and, in any event, I’m afraid to mention anything in case it gets arranged.

So I would take from that he was probably happy enough as he was. He had a long life with enough money to have travelled to Barbados if it had been something he had really wanted to do. All involved in that trip were in the wrong. The rest of us were stuck at home, in my area it was illegal to visit my parents house at that time.

I don’t condone death threats(or threats of any kind) but of course people should be able to be critical and discuss what has gone on. Hannah wanted a public profile, actively encouraged it and this is what happens when you are found to be a grifter.

The country was swept away in patriotic fervour as a distraction from the complete shambles led by inept and corrupt Boris Johnson.
It was obvious at the time, but many of us were afraid to voice our opinion - I remember the pressure from neighbours to join the clapping for the NHS, and having to justify not doing it, and being judged for it. Same for the 'Captain Tom' ridiculous story.
.

How do we know he wanted that? In the book he said the money raised was going to the foundation…we have no way of knowing he ever said the money had to go to the family, we only have the daughters word for that…

It clearly stated it was for the foundation. H I-M is now saying he wanted the money to go to his family. That’s not what is says in the foreword to the book…

Who asked him??

I'm afraid the press and gvt just as much to blame- at a time of turmoil it suited their agenda to ramp up the old war spirit and flag shagging - - partly because of covid and partly because it fitted with their Brexit agenda-

People never say they fell for and contributed to a SM mass thing

It’s someone else after it’s over

People fell for stuff during Covid: and argued for it constantly on here and elsewhere probably

I actually had an argument with my neighbour about the clapping and making a din with pots and pans. I refused point blank to take part - it was like people had been brainwashed. They felt extremely aggrieved by this and said I had no respect

Equally, I did not donate to Tom as I suspected the money wouldn't be used wisely. I couldn't believe the god like status that he achieved?!

As for that dreadful duet - the less said about that, the better! My mother bought AND played that song repeatedly and definitely shed a few tears - (shudder)

Good for you 🙄

Thanks! It was!

I never understood the Captain Tom hysteria. They were clearly a very weathly family and the daughter knew EXACTLY what she was doing when they started it all. The charity singles, being knighted by the Queen- all absolutely crazy. And all the while they were creaming of the top of the proceeds!

Would love to hear the other daughter's take on it. It always felt Hannah and her family were determined to monopolise the publicity and exclude the other daughter.

Thanks 😊

Can you elaborate on how it is wasted?

Can you expand?

To the person who thinks Tom Moore's son was the person cheating on 'Who wants to be a millioniare' Tom Moore and his wife has two daughters - no sons, so any man with the surname Ingram is not his son.

https://www.forces.net/news/can-military-personnel-keep-their-rank-after-retirement#:~:text=In%20both%20the%20structures%20of,to%20that%20of%20the%20Army.

It really is as simple as this. Not deceptive (as he really was a Captain) but incredibly gauche. Tom Moore would have known, but perhaps he was encouraged by his daughter, who I imagine is quite a forceful personality.

I didn’t fall for it. Media hype. My mother neither

I’m not sure it was the old boy himself who coined his own character name though, probably the media just started to refer to him as Cap’n Tom as they really do love to dumb down people’s names into marketable characters.

And for Tom Moore himself, it’s a much better epithet than “the scourge of Burma” or whatever the locals called him during the war when he was up to his usual mischief.

I also think the role Russ Abbot played in his eventual demise hasn’t been fully investigated either. So many questions.

Am sure I read his daughter suggested Captain Tom, although he'd never gone by this. And he just said 'alright then'.

Same goes for those Sausage Roll grifters