Scamming a food bank for the sake of a story

stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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"No questions asked" apparently equals "our reporter was asked a series of questions".

This is pretty low, it has to be said. Scamming a food bank just to push the idea that people using them are scammers.

I can't help but think that if there was a Jesus, this wouldn't be quite how he'd want people to celebrate his resurrection.
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Comments

  • CravenHavenCravenHaven Posts: 13,953
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    The premise of it as journalism is irrational.
    Give someone a hard luck story and they are blameworthy for believing you?
    This is journalism?
    If they had been given 1 year of free food it might have alerted a flaw in the system. 3 days... not so much.
  • CryolemonCryolemon Posts: 8,670
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    I hope someone reports him to the police for fraud.
  • nanscombenanscombe Posts: 16,588
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    Journalists have been known to travel through the likes of airport security with a fake bomb just to prove a point or, more likely, to sell papers.
  • claire2281claire2281 Posts: 17,283
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    nanscombe wrote: »
    Journalists have been known to travel through the likes of airport security with a fake bomb just to prove a point or, more likely, to sell papers.

    Which in a way I can understand because they're trying to point out potentially deadly security flaws.

    I can't understand the 'morality' behind committing fraud trying to smear a charity who help the poor and hungry. I don't think 'low' quite covers it.
  • Pisces CloudPisces Cloud Posts: 30,239
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    I find the negative agenda towards the benefit system by some sections of the media quite alarming.
  • ianradioianianradioian Posts: 74,644
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    The food was returned; the report was highlighting how easy it is to scam the foodbanks by people who aren't entitled to it-leaving less for those who do.
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    The food was returned; the report was highlighting how easy it is to scam the foodbanks by people who aren't entitled to it-leaving less for those who do.

    And the blatant lie in the headline?
  • muggins14muggins14 Posts: 61,844
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    stoatie wrote: »
    And the blatant lie in the headline?
    Terrible lie... he clearly states how he was interviewed and questioned regarding his status.
  • VioletSummersVioletSummers Posts: 1,363
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    The food was returned; the report was highlighting how easy it is to scam the foodbanks by people who aren't entitled to it-leaving less for those who do.

    Well what do you expect? If they had to run a full background check and check your income and expenses it would take much longer.

    How about instead of saying "Food banks are bad because people can scam food out of them" say "People are bad for scamming a charity" !
  • claire2281claire2281 Posts: 17,283
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    muggins14 wrote: »
    Terrible lie... he clearly states how he was interviewed and questioned regarding his status.

    Quite.

    What should the food banks do? Tell someone to go away for a week whilst they then process their claim to see if it's genuine? And if the person needs food in the meantime?

    All we know is that there are some rather scummy individuals there who will sink to the depths of scamming a charity. It's been going on for years. Similar thing with those who will give out fake charity bags, collect the goods and sell them. But quite rightly the derision is saved for those doing this, not the charities who were trying to help people. In this case though it seems to be the charity that the Mail wish to 'expose' for being what? Kind?
  • psionicpsionic Posts: 20,188
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    stoatie wrote: »
    "No questions asked" apparently equals "our reporter was asked a series of questions".

    This is pretty low, it has to be said. Scamming a food bank just to push the idea that people using them are scammers.

    I can't help but think that if there was a Jesus, this wouldn't be quite how he'd want people to celebrate his resurrection.

    It's no doubt a pathetic attempt at journalism.
  • UKMikeyUKMikey Posts: 28,728
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    I haven't noticed anyone mentioning the "M" word yet but this behaviour seems characteristic of the newspaper concerned.

    I'm glad the twitterati are around to look over their shoulder and, if not quite keep them honest, can point out to the rest of us what a bunch of scumbag charlatans they are for running with a story like this.
  • muggins14muggins14 Posts: 61,844
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    claire2281 wrote: »
    Quite.

    What should the food banks do? Tell someone to go away for a week whilst they then process their claim to see if it's genuine? And if the person needs food in the meantime?

    All we know is that there are some rather scummy individuals there who will sink to the depths of scamming a charity. It's been going on for years. Similar thing with those who will give out fake charity bags, collect the goods and sell them. But quite rightly the derision is saved for those doing this, not the charities who were trying to help people. In this case though it seems to be the charity that the Mail wish to 'expose' for being what? Kind?
    SAd isn't it. All they want to do is create a perception that there are no genuinely poor and needy people by smearing a charity. Just another attempt to humiliate the needy (who apparently don't exist) and create more division through derision.

    This tweet sums it up really "The Mail's outraged today because a reporter wasn't treated like a lying scumbag when he went to a food bank and lied like a scumbag."
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    claire2281 wrote: »
    In this case though it seems to be the charity that the Mail wish to 'expose' for being what? Kind?

    No, its more like 'dolescum can spend OUR money on ****, booze and wide screen TV's and then steal the food out of the mouths of the genuinely needy*'

    * yes, its a paradox!
  • claire2281claire2281 Posts: 17,283
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    Ber wrote: »
    No, its more like 'dolescum can spend OUR money on ****, booze and wide screen TV's and then steal the food out of the mouths of the genuinely needy*'

    * yes, its a paradox!

    True.

    Essentially they want this sort of kindness banned so they can get one over on the dolescum (which is obviously far more important than the genuinely needy who would miss out).
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    claire2281 wrote: »
    True.

    Essentially they want this sort of kindness banned so they can get one over on the dolescum (which is obviously far more important than the genuinely needy who would miss out).

    Currently the top 3 best rated comments:

    Patrick, Belfast, 14 hours ago
    Proof that Food Banks are allowing people to spend extra money on Bingo and Lager.
    2749


    Brit, Yorkshire, 14 hours ago
    Nice to know asylum seekers get houses,benefits for them and their endless kids, and free food?!! Don't we have enough home grown benefit louts? Maybe all the tax payers should move abroad then no one can pay for all these free rides!
    2354


    headintheclouds, home is where the heart is, United Kingdom, 14 hours ago
    Charity begins at home. How many of these "poor" people smoke,drink,have sky TV,mobile phones?
    2185
  • Goblin QueenGoblin Queen Posts: 633
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    The premise of it as journalism is irrational.
    Give someone a hard luck story and they are blameworthy for believing you?
    This is journalism?

    I find it depressing and disgusting when I see some of the vile rubbish which passes for journalism.
  • muggins14muggins14 Posts: 61,844
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    Ber wrote: »
    Currently the top 3 best rated comments:

    Patrick, Belfast, 14 hours ago
    Proof that Food Banks are allowing people to spend extra money on Bingo and Lager.
    2749


    Brit, Yorkshire, 14 hours ago
    Nice to know asylum seekers get houses,benefits for them and their endless kids, and free food?!! Don't we have enough home grown benefit louts? Maybe all the tax payers should move abroad then no one can pay for all these free rides!
    2354


    headintheclouds, home is where the heart is, United Kingdom, 14 hours ago
    Charity begins at home. How many of these "poor" people smoke,drink,have sky TV,mobile phones?
    2185
    From IDS mouth to MOS readers' lips.
  • DinkyDoobieDinkyDoobie Posts: 17,786
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    stoatie wrote: »
    And the blatant lie in the headline?

    Where is the lie? he says they didn't ask him for ID or check if he actually was getting jobseekers allowance
  • stoatiestoatie Posts: 78,106
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    Where is the lie? he says they didn't ask him for ID or check if he actually was getting jobseekers allowance

    "No questions asked". "A series of questions". You don't see any kind of dissonance here?
  • UKMikeyUKMikey Posts: 28,728
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    Where is the lie? he says they didn't ask him for ID or check if he actually was getting jobseekers allowance
    It says no questions asked when there were a lot of questions asked. Like the comments say, people use food banks to get food for other people. It may be open to abuse but the only person who's done so on record is a scummy journalist.
  • BerBer Posts: 24,562
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    Where is the lie? he says they didn't ask him for ID or check if he actually was getting jobseekers allowance

    Maybe this will help?
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlqHUB_IYAABrHQ.png
  • CryolemonCryolemon Posts: 8,670
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    stoatie wrote: »
    "No questions asked". "A series of questions". You don't see any kind of dissonance here?

    They're argument would be that "no questions asked" is a figure of speech.
  • DinkyDoobieDinkyDoobie Posts: 17,786
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    stoatie wrote: »
    "No questions asked". "A series of questions". You don't see any kind of dissonance here?

    When you were talking about the headline i assumed you meant

    No ID, no checks... and vouchers for sob stories: The truth behind those shock food bank claims

    I presume when they say no questions asked they refer to his identity and entitlement.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 36,630
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    Where is the lie? he says they didn't ask him for ID or check if he actually was getting jobseekers allowance

    Are you blind or being deliberately obtuse?.

    "No Questions Asked" says the headline.

    "The woman called Katherine, who was in her 60s, asked our reporter a series of questions about why the foodbank vouchers were needed" says the article itself.
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