Mr Chips Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Was talking to my lad about scams today and I remembered the pen man. He would offer people pens in town (in the 80s) and then ask for 10p, which I remember seeing surprised people hand over, before realising they had been done. Did anyone on here ever get caught out by him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernStar Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Can you elaborate, what was the scam? He sold pens for 10p? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
top4718 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I remember a small old man who used to push a marker type pen into your hand then ask for money for some sort of charity, Jarvis Cocker mentions him in a Pulp song but I cannot remember which one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plain Talker Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I remember a small old man who used to push a marker type pen into your hand then ask for money for some sort of charity, Jarvis Cocker mentions him in a Pulp song but I cannot remember which one. Can you elaborate, what was the scam? He sold pens for 10p? I remember him very well. He was quite forceful and intimidating in his manner. Quite nasty, in fact:- he would get very shirty with you, if you didn't give him money. He scammed people by pretending that it was all for "old soldiers". I tended to see him around the junction opposite Debenhams at Moorhead. (where the heart foundation charity shop is, now) Sorry I can't help with the name of the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
top4718 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I remember him very well. He was quite forceful and intimidating in his manner. Quite nasty, in fact:- he would get very shirty with you, if you didn't give him money. He scammed people by pretending that it was all for "old soldiers". I tended to see him around the junction opposite Debenhams at Moorhead. (where the heart foundation charity shop is, now) Sorry I can't help with the name of the song. Thats exactly the location where I was "scammed". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernStar Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I see, so he gave you the pen first then made you feel obliged to pay for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plain Talker Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I see, so he gave you the pen first then made you feel obliged to pay for it. Well, it was a bit stronger than "made you feel obliged..." but, yes, he'd be quite insistent and press the pen on you, and then get really shirty and aggressive if you wouldn't stump up the money, or tried to give it him back. As I said above, he would imply that the money was for old soldiers. (I suppose in the 1970s/ early 80s, it was still very close to folks' hearts, the major wars like WWII etc) What he did, though, was sort of like demanding money with menaces/ obtaining money under false pretences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waldo Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Should have gave him the pen back, and billed him for 'storage'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polka-dot Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 At least it was something useful like pens - in Lancaster there was an old guy who used to use the same tactics but he shoved strips of sticky bandages or plasters on you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I worked in town in the eighties and never saw the guy. Does anyone know....was it a scam? Or just an over enthusiastic fund raiser? Scam is a bit strong if the latter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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