Door to Door Chocolate Wafers $10 - Fraud?

Bignudge on 26/02/2025 - 14:04
Last edited 26/02/2025 - 14:24 by 1 other user

Hey OzBargainers! I had someone walk into my business address, tell a sob story about their dying mother in hospital, followed by pleading me to buy a few of their chocolate wafers for $10.

I realise this is the 2nd time this has happened over the past year or so at my address and the story/method is always the same. Strangely enough, I also remember seeing the same exact same scenario at a random a restaurant I was dining at about 15KM away.

Has this happened to you? I just want to know if it's a group doing it, as it's too much of a coincidence for it to be genuine (3 cases, spread out over ~2 years, different locations, same type of chocolate wafers with strange brands not sold at Woolies/Coles)

Image of the chocolate wafers

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/02/2025 - 14:05
    +25

    It’s 2025.

    I’m surprised they don’t just do a gofundme.

    And I guess the other argument is you give $10, you get a pack of wafers… as agreed. Is it actually a scam?

    • Bignudge on 26/02/2025 - 14:11

      I guess you're right on that one, I've changed it to "fraud" instead.

      I'm not upset at giving $10 for some chocolate wafers, but I just want to get to the truth behind their sob story. Like if it's genuine then that's cool…. But I'd hate to see a group roaming all day commiting fraud everyday across NSW selling 2 packets of wafers for $10 a time.

    • MS Paint on 26/02/2025 - 15:35
      +2

      I found the matching gofundme for Monica

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/02/2025 - 15:54
        +2

        It’s 2025 and I still think about that old guy with the Seiko in ebay who was hard up for cash

  • Dollar General on 26/02/2025 - 14:18
    +15

    The mum died choking on a chocolate wafer

  • Russell Dupsumtucka on 26/02/2025 - 14:24
    +2

    I prefer the Rachel wafers

    • OptimisticPessimist on 27/02/2025 - 15:17
      +1

      Just keep them away from Ross, they can't seem to keep their hands to themselves.

      • YellowDieselGolf on 27/02/2025 - 22:01
        +2

        It was a kitkat. They were on a break!

  • Euphemistic on 26/02/2025 - 14:25

    How is it fraud if you give them $10 and they give you wafers? Is value of the goods less than $10? Are the goods not theirs to sell?

    Sure, their marketing pracrices are predatory, bordering on fraudulent, but if you are getting $10 worth of goods is it fraud?

    • coffeeinmyveins on 26/02/2025 - 15:45
      +3

      ? Is value of the goods less than $10

      Yes

      but if you are getting $10 worth of goods is it fraud?

      Do you really think that chocolate bar is worth $10?

    • orangetrain on 26/02/2025 - 16:17
      +11

      In Australia, it's considered deceptive conductive. Essentially, a lie to get you to purchase something that you would otherwise not buy.

      Look at the infamous unlimited Internet case.

      "Sure, their marketing practices are predatory, bordering on fraudulent, but if you are getting unlimited Internet is it fraud?"

      It turns out that customers bought unlimited Internet on their assumption their Internet was unlimited instead of going from normal Internet speeds to 56kb/s according to the fine print.

      • frewer on 27/02/2025 - 18:09
        +6

        In Australia, it's considered deceptive conductive. Essentially, a lie to get you to purchase something that you would otherwise not buy.

        Sounds like politicians BEFORE election…

    • CaptainJack on 26/02/2025 - 18:05
      +1

      How is it fraud

      Sure, their marketing pracrices are […] bordering on fraudulent

      Think you answered your own question there :).

      And to spell it out, no one is just randomly buying wafers for $10, the idea is to feel good about helping someone in need. But if they're not in need, one might say its fraud.

    • Bignudge on 27/02/2025 - 11:14
      +1

      It's not a scam because I got what I paid for… but fraud due to the use of deception for financial gain.

    • iminabrons on 27/02/2025 - 16:44

      I would say yes Even if they are excellent value it is still fraudulent.

    • ItsMeAgro on 28/02/2025 - 11:19
      +1

      Looking at the picture, the wafers are worth no more than 50c (probably closer to 5).

      I've bought these from "fundraisers" before. As far as I can tell, the cause was legit, and it's not exactly theft, just overpriced more than it needs to be in order to fundraise.

  • AustriaBargain on 26/02/2025 - 14:45
    +1

    Arabic writing, they get them cheap then. Weak hustle, they must be hurting for money.

  • jv on 26/02/2025 - 14:45
    +2

    Has this happened to you?

    No

  • Ozbar Gain on 26/02/2025 - 14:48

    What is the health star rating?

  • Wiadro on 26/02/2025 - 14:53

    yum are they nice

  • MS Paint on 26/02/2025 - 14:59
    -6

    Is their a nutritional chart on the wrapper anywhere?

    If not, then they probably aren't for individual sale in Australia.

    Just someone desperate for money with a fictional story to play on potential buyers emotions.

    Definitely not a scam or fraud.

    • AustriaBargain on 26/02/2025 - 15:14
      -2

      They could also be autistic or something and their mother really is dying and they are trying to make some money, not realising that it's weird and inappropriate. I can imagine for some people with some disabilities, losing their mother could be the end of their world. I wouldn't say it's likely, but it's not impossible.

      • MS Paint on 26/02/2025 - 15:25
        +1

        Sounds like a slow, painful death with two visits in 12 months with the same story.

        • AustriaBargain on 26/02/2025 - 15:35
          +1

          I was at a bus stop once in a low land value suburb and this girl was at the stop with a duffel bag full of ceramic dolphin figures. She said she was taking them to Cash Converters, asked me if I wanted to buy one. They were pretty well loved, lots of chips and scuffs. She seemed too old to be doing it and got overall autism vibes from her. It must be hard to find a job when you make that kind of impression.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 26/02/2025 - 15:48

      Just someone desperate for money with a fictional story to play on potential buyers emotions.

      Definitely not a scam or fraud.

      I'm curious what you define a scam as, if this isn't it by your own admission of making up a story to play on emotions.

      • MS Paint on 26/02/2025 - 16:28
        +3

        I'd classify it as "telling porkies to try and sell some bickies".

  • bargaino on 26/02/2025 - 15:16
    +7

    A hustle. They probably cannot work legally here. Better than holding a cardboard sign on the street, I suppose.

    • Euphemistic on 26/02/2025 - 15:58
      +1

      Hustle is probably a better word for it. Not outright fraud, but definitely pulling the strings to get more money than they are worth.

  • tenpercent on 26/02/2025 - 15:24
    +2

    I've had this happen twice at my front foor in the past 6 months. First time was someone fresh off the boat with a thick accent, second time was someone whose accent indicates they grew up here. Same story each time. I just told them I'm on a diet. I remember it happenening at an old address several years ago as well.

  • Seraphin7 on 26/02/2025 - 15:42

    Not a scam or a fraud … but certainly a strange way to try to drum up some income (there's no dying mother, obvs). I used to see this sort of thing, maybe 20 or 30 years ago, but haven't even thought about it for that long.

    • mskeggs on 26/02/2025 - 17:29
      +2

      I mean, everyone is dying in the long run!

    • jv on 26/02/2025 - 18:26
      +1

      Not a scam or a fraud …

      then

      (there's no dying mother, obvs)

      😕

  • coffeeinmyveins on 26/02/2025 - 15:46
    +10

    People saying it's not a scam are implying that since you are paying for something, it can't be a scam.

    A scam is anything that is dishonest with the intent of taking advantage.

    a) these chocolates are certainly not worth $10 of value to the consumer
    b) there is 100% not a dying mother or anything else like that

    Therefore yes, it's a scam.

    If they were being honest they would say "look I need the money, and i have these chocolates…"

    • mskeggs on 26/02/2025 - 17:37

      I guess. Is the guy washing your windscreen for a dollar at the lights a scammer? I don't think dragging a grubby squeegee is worth money, and I doubt the recipient is going to tell you honestly what they are going to spend the money on.
      I guess I rank scam as something that gets it's results from being a trick, and these kind of things don't really make that threshold, but I guess maybe some people don't view it as just another form of panhandling.

    • simplystu on 26/02/2025 - 20:10

      @coffeeinmyveins … by your scope … that makes basically all car salesmen == scammers then.

      I don't like car sales tactics - but at end of the day … i/we/ppl agree to buy said car at a certain price.
      due to transaction being completed - both parties have agreed to be happy with the deal.

      a long ago - I did media studies at uni … and similar practices are rife within general marketing industry (just that average joe isn't aware of it).
      I wouldn't quite call it fraud/scam … but certainly 100% immoral.

    • Bignudge on 27/02/2025 - 11:11

      I do agree with where you're going, and that it shouldn't be done either ways.

      I also think that it may be closer to fraud than a scam. It would have been a scam if I paid the $10 and didn't receive any wafers in return.

      In this case it's just deception to gain a financial advantage.

  • pwnd on 26/02/2025 - 17:42

    It's a cheap Indonesian waifer chocolate, that they probably source for less than $1 per pack. Just a way to get a large margin.
    Not exactly the best business model. Would need to sell that sob story quite a few times to make it worth while..

    • jv on 26/02/2025 - 18:29

      that they probably source for less than $1 per pack.

      aren't they 80 cents per pack at ALDI ?

    • rodericb on 02/03/2025 - 13:13

      If it was a box of Beng Beng I might be interested.

  • lovesabargain77 on 26/02/2025 - 18:06
    +6

    Just keep a packet of Tim Tams in your desk and the next time someone comes in trying to sell you wafer biscuits for fundraising, tell them you're also fundraising and offer to sell them the Tim Tams for a similar price.

    • MS Paint on 26/02/2025 - 19:06
      +4

      Make sure the are the double coat variety for the full flex experience.

  • bobbified on 26/02/2025 - 19:04
    +1

    it's too much of a coincidence for it to be genuine (3 cases, spread out over ~2 years, different locations, same type of chocolate wafers

    You don't think more than 3 mothers have died over the last two years? 😋

    • try2bhelpful on 26/02/2025 - 22:17
      +2

      I would start by asking if Mum had eaten any of the wafers lately. There seems to be a case being built up.

  • djones145 on 26/02/2025 - 20:12

    you made a donation to a non registered charity
    and in exchange you picked up a chocolate bar (that was not for retail sale) for free

  • John Kimble on 26/02/2025 - 21:21
    +1

    Yes, recently in Canley Heights. Guy came around and left a written note on each restaurant table explaining the deal, then came back around to collect the notes and see if anyone was willing to purchase.

    • Bignudge on 27/02/2025 - 11:09

      The restaurant where I saw it was at Cabramatta….

      • John Kimble on 27/02/2025 - 11:13

        Forgot to mention in my case the guy had different chocolates to the ones you linked though.

        • Bignudge on 27/02/2025 - 11:17

          I'm assuming it was a brand that probably wasn't sold at Wooleys/Coles hey.

    • pongie on 28/02/2025 - 14:12

      Must be going around in the area. Got a knock on my door in cabramatta west this week

  • try2bhelpful on 26/02/2025 - 22:15
    +1

    Haven’t had that one. Have had the “need money to buy my prescription” and “I’ve lost my wallet and need a fare to get home” ones from multiple people. I once had a kid asking me for money and he was better dressed than I was. Don’t buy the wafers. If no other reason than because you don’t know the food quality.

    • Bignudge on 27/02/2025 - 11:20

      I remember seeing a social experiment where a guy firstly dressed up as a hobo followed by a business man in a suit. He went around asking for money because he left his wallet at home and needed some cash.

      Dressed as a hobo, he got nothing. People stayed far away. But dressed as a business man, people straight up gave him money without even doubting or hesitating.

      • try2bhelpful on 27/02/2025 - 12:05

        It doesn’t work for me. If you are dressed in a suit you have other options.

    • tenpercent on 01/03/2025 - 09:31

      They used to be more honest. "Gotta dolla for a durry brudda?"

  • wetsandwich on 27/02/2025 - 13:26

    This is a third world thing usually, but I guess it's now a more creative way of begging and hustling as the average person struggles more here.

    Put up a sign that says 'no hawkers' on the door and if they try again, point to that and give them 'the eye'.

    • Poor Ass on 28/02/2025 - 08:05

      Hawkeye

  • nobro25 on 27/02/2025 - 19:28

    Give me 10 90grams of Mushashi protein bars and I'm all in for 10 bucks.

  • jimmy1593 on 27/02/2025 - 20:24

    Yes, it happened to me once at a shopping mall in Sydney.
    A chinese orientation guy in his mid 20's appears out of no where while we were dining at the food court with a bag of chocolates and mask on his face handing out a note which read the same - someone's I'll and they need money.
    He went on every table after collecting money from us, some gave him and some didn't.

    Looks like a thing to con people emotionally

  • YellowDieselGolf on 27/02/2025 - 22:03

    This feels like a Wagner

    https://www.instagram.com/truewagner

  • Poor Ass on 28/02/2025 - 08:03

    Thanks thanks thanks thanks…

  • Ozjonno on 28/02/2025 - 08:20

    Hey i had the same thing happen to me last year. Same choc wafer and sick mum overseas story door knocking in our area in/around Auburn area

    Curious to know if yours was the same person (an indoesian/filipino woman) or maybe this is part of a bigger thing?

    • Bignudge on 22/04/2025 - 15:51

      I wasn't home when this happened, my father was. From what dad said, they weren't asian but spoke English with a strong accent. Weird….

  • Muppet Detector on 03/03/2025 - 00:54

    In the old days they were called girl guide biscuits and you didn't even need to make up an excuse for why you were selling them.

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