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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Another scan to be aware of….

17 replies

Flappybirds · 10/05/2025 20:21

oops- can’t edit title, I meant scam.

Popped into a co-op local today to get a few bits for a group ‘picky bit’ lunch- pots of coleslaw, pasta salad, cous cous etc and some bread. Did a mental tally up regarding cost and estimated that it was going to cost me about £15. Got to the check out and was surprised to be charged just over £20.

I wasn’t offered a receipt and would normally say no in this type of situation but I requested a receipt as the cost was so different to what I was expecting. Looked at it and I’d been charged for 4x £1 scratch cards that I hadn’t bought. When I queried this they mumbled something about the previous customers purchase being accidentally added to mine and refunded me in cash.

I mulled it over all afternoon- I am guessing this is some scam. If they add a few scratch cards to every customer’s shopping they can take however many they’ve accumulated and pocket any winnings- very sneaky. I wouldn’t have noticed if it had been a pound or two more than my estimated but I did.

I wonder how much they make from this scam?

OP posts:

Bodonka · 10/05/2025 20:48

I mean, it’s possible. I think it’s more likely the previous customers card declined/transaction doesn’t go through and whoever was working the till didn’t realise (I’ve seen it happen a few times back when I was a retail manager - it’s normally someone new or someone who needs reminding to check what they’re doing 🙄🫠) - I doubt it’s a scam and if it were it’d be one person on a till trying it a few times until it’s found out by management and they’re fired. It won’t be a corporate decision. If you really think it was deliberate get in touch with their store manager/socials and then the managers will keep an eye on that person.

19lottie82 · 10/05/2025 20:51

In a coop? Doubt it.

what would the staff member gain from this? The scratch cards sold wouldn’t tally up.

and the bosses wouldn’t tell them to do this.

a simple mistake I’d imagine.

MoominMai · 10/05/2025 21:08

Yes I think likely an error rather than scam, esp from what @Bodonka said. Also I imagine the person would have avoided asking you if you wanted a receipt.

kwetu · 10/05/2025 21:14

Co-op tills usually have a screen that shows you what’s scanned through and prices.

Endofyear · 10/05/2025 21:18

Seems highly unlikely that people who work in the co-op were trying to scam you - the explanation you were given is most likely what happened. As others have said, I doubt the server would have offered you a receipt if he was involved in a scam!

Original poster

Flappybirds · 10/05/2025 21:31

I wasn’t offered a receipt. I asked for one.

OP posts:

BigCheese24 · 10/05/2025 21:35

It’s a mistake, not a scam.

BoredZelda · 10/05/2025 21:36

Wow, first Starbucks, now the CO-OP. Seems everyone in retail is on the make today.

UpJacksArseAndRoundTheCorner · 10/05/2025 21:37

If they did it on purpose, they wouldn't be stupid enough to add £4 onto such a small purchase.

They'd have added £1 to yours and then done a few more throughout the shift.

Much more likely to have been a mistake.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 10/05/2025 21:49

Probably an error. I don’t think it was an error when I was charged a lot of extra money when I checked out of a hotel quickly because of an emergency. I did get it back eventually.

GreenSkyes · 10/05/2025 21:51

It's likely the previous purchase didn't go through but the server has stupidly handed over the scratch cards before it was authorised. They've then served you afterwards and not realized

I worked in retail once and had a colleague who let a customer leave with over £100 worth of stuff as it was taking a long time to process, didn't realise it had declined until she stated scanning the next person's items and the bill was high, think 2 books and a pen costing £120 instead of £20.

Theunamedcat · 10/05/2025 21:52

Surely the scam isn't the money it's the lottery tickets?

UpJacksArseAndRoundTheCorner · 10/05/2025 21:54

Theunamedcat · 10/05/2025 21:52

Surely the scam isn't the money it's the lottery tickets?

Yes, the OP thinks she's paying for the cashier's lottery tickets.

B1indEye · 10/05/2025 21:56

19lottie82 · 10/05/2025 20:51

In a coop? Doubt it.

what would the staff member gain from this? The scratch cards sold wouldn’t tally up.

and the bosses wouldn’t tell them to do this.

a simple mistake I’d imagine.

They would agree as , if it was a scam, the person on the till would take the scratchcards that the OP had paid for for themselves, 4 cards sold, 4 cards removed from the pile of cards.

Any winnings kept by the till person

Could work but not on any kind of regular basis as too much risk of customers noticing

GiroJim100 · 10/05/2025 22:07

The staff in my local Co-op are so lazy and half soaked I doubt they would have the competence to implement any kind of scam.

B1indEye · 10/05/2025 22:07

GiroJim100 · 10/05/2025 22:07

The staff in my local Co-op are so lazy and half soaked I doubt they would have the competence to implement any kind of scam.

That's what they want you to think 😂

TheJinxMinx · 10/05/2025 22:31

There's no definite proof to say this isn't a possible scam and a smart one at that. May not even pocket the cards could just take the extra 4 pound from the till. Could be a mistake but also could be someone acting naive. I knew a security guard one who stopped a policeman stealing. Guy said he was tired on nights forgot to pay whilst pockets wer stuffed and it happened more than once would notice he would regularly beep walking out of the shop. Who thinks to stop a copper. It does happen.

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