A number of West Ham United players and staff, as well as some employees of Norwich City, have alerted the metropolitan police to con-man who appeared at both clubs' training grounds offering hampers from Fortnum & Mason and champagne from Harrods at a cut-price.
Andy Carroll and West Ham manager Sam Allardyce are apparently £11,000 out of pocket after the con-man convinced them of his legitimacy before disappearing and never returning with the goods.
The story goes that the fraudster claimed he had several contacts at both firms, and took orders for hampers and champagne ahead of Christmas, promising delivery in time for the holidays. When Christmas eve came and went with no sign of the goods, West Ham alerted the police as the man is believed to have taken £30,000 in total from West Ham players and staff, as well as a further £5000 from the staff at Norwich City.
A spokesperson for the metropolitan police confirmed that an investigation was underway as she said:
Officers from Newham are investigating an allegation of fraud which occurred on Friday, December 12. It was reported to police on December 24 and inquiries are continuing. There have been no arrests.
You'd have to wonder why those who earn what the likes of Andy Carroll do a week would need to cut corners on such things, and why they would risk giving money to some bloke who shows up at the training ground, but then again, everybody loves a bargain.
via Daily Mail.
