Hospitality Ulster urges caution over Rugby Scam
12 May 2016
Hospitality Ulster today issued a reminder to pubs, hotels and restaurants across Northern Ireland to be vigilant over a ‘rugby’ scam that has been targeting businesses in the sector recently.
The scam involves a phony salesperson visiting or calling upon a number of premises, posing as a representative from Queen’s Rugby Club and offering to bring rugby teams in for dinner, in return for a donation to a cancer charity. The so called offer is in no way affiliated to Queen’s University or their rugby club
Gavin Bates from Ryan’s Bar on the Lisburn Road, Belfast said:
“We were visited by a young man in March who claimed to be from Queen’s Rugby Club. He advised us that he organised shirt and tie dinners for Queen’s rugby teams and offered to bring a group of 20 or so players to our premises on what would usually be a quite night, in return for a £100 donation which would go to a cancer charity.
“I was wary at first but he was very convincing and spoke in great detail about the bars and restaurants that he worked with. He also showed me a list of around 20 bars and restaurants in Belfast who had signed up and I knew most of these people from the industry – it had names and signatures of the owners and managers of the bars on it.
“We have since found out that the offer was a bogus one and are now out of pocket because of it.”
Colin Neill, CEO of Hospitality Ulster said:
“This scam has been doing the rounds since March. We warned our members about it at the time but have recently discovered that it is ongoing and a number of businesses in the Belfast area have been targeted in recent weeks.
“The bogus salesperson may come across as quite convincing and it may seem like they are offering a good deal, however the offer is in no way affiliated to Queen’s Rugby Club and as a result we would urge those businesses in the hospitality sector not to be taken in by this fraudulent offer.
“We would also appeal to licensees to keep a look out for these scam artists and bring any information they have to the PSNI. Similarly if they have any concerns or questions they can contact the team at Hospitality Ulster.”
Anyone who is concerned or has questions can call the Hospitality Ulster team on 028 9032 7578. Furthermore if you have been a victim of the scam, you should contact the PSNI on the non-emergency number 101.