Holiday Scam Benidorm

[Erinaz]

Hi im on holiday and out walking on the sea front my mum has noticed a game and she likes to watch the potatoe game even though I warned her its a scam. She has withdrawn some money and is determined to have a go . I don't want to upset her should I just let her loose the money ? She has watched other people win and really thinks she has a chance. Any advice thankyou 😊

Tell her again its a scam but if she wants to waste her money thats on her. Maybe after a game or 2 she will realise you where right

What sort of game? Arcade? How much?

Its a game where 3 potatoe halfs are shown then moved about with a pea underneath you guess which one its under .

Benidorm's potato scam An object such as a ball or a chickpea is put inside one, the potatoes are then switched around and punters have to guess the potato which contains the item. Those that are 'playing the game' are in on the act and it looks like an easy win.

Years ago it used to be a pea under one of 3 walnut shells - it's as old as the hills.

It's a version of 3 card monte, or the shell game. Always a scam, they have the fastest hands ever when playing the general public. The people you see winning are usually part of the scam. I let her lose a small amount if she insists.

Right, it's the shell game, only with potatoes for cups? Funny!

Yes, warn her but let her, OP. As long it's just ice-cream money, not her life savings.

It's a scam that dates back to Ancient Greece at least. It was known in Ancient Rome and appears in medieval paintings, including Hieronymus Bosch's 'The Conjuror'.

So it does have a long, if not respectable, history.

What sort of amounts is your mum planning to put on this game, when you say she has withdrawn some money? I’m thinking of when my son was young and he would ask to play the grabbers game in arcades. It was pretty much that he would never win and we knew we were effectively throwing money away but it was just a couple of quid.

Maybe show her this thread?

Show her some videos on YouTube of people being scammed

If your mum hasn't worked out this isn't a scam, let her go ahead. She'll learn a lesson (hopefully).

How much are we talking about? I mean I’d probably have a go just for a laugh and the experience? I’d actually love for her to have a go and win now 😆

Just Google it and pass her your phone 🤷‍♂️

The people "winning" are part of the scam.

Tell her he keeps the pea in his hand all the time, to slip under one you didn't choose, so winning is impossible. No gamble, no excitement. Anyone who appears to win is a confederate - a shill.

They'll probably let her win once. She goes Yay! Then she plays a few more times, when she does not win.

That scam was probably around when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Yeah, the ones who "win" are part of the team.

Umm, if she's that gullible watch out how much money she's spending on scams.

How has your mum managed to get to her (presumably) adult age without knowing about this one? Does she not ever watch TV or read anything?

Its a fairground game. Every so often somebody will win 😅

I would walk away and not even entertain her by watching.
It's her money to lose, you've warned her so let her find out for herself.

And you have to be careful of being picked pocketed too

I’d never heard of it 🤷‍♀️ Not that I’d be likely to take part.

Tell her that the people she’s seen “winning” are in on the scam. It’s part of the whole thing, to lure unsuspecting tourists into thinking they stand a chance.