Sarah Stewart has been “overwhelmed by the response” of cheese lovers around the globe since she made public the story of a fraudster who stole £300,000.00 worth of the best cheddar in the world from Neal’s Yard Dairy.
After the news spread about the four-month sophisticated scam, messages of support and offers of financial assistance as well as cheese orders came in from as far away as America and Germany.
Stewart stated, “Clearly British love their cheese. But we’ve had a number of people get in touch. It seems that it has gone international.” Jamie Oliver, a celebrity chef and restaurateur shared the news about the fraud
Jamie Oliver helped to spread the news about the 22 tonnes (950 lbs) of three artisan Cheddars – Hafod Welsh Organic Cheddars, Westcombe Cheddars, and Pitchfork Cheddars – that could start finding their way onto the black market within the next year.
Stewart stated that “We have had producers who we buy from ask what they can do. ‘Can they extend terms and provide financial support?’ and trade customers asking, Can we pay faster and what can we make?’
We have three London shops and many of our customers are very concerned and have offered support. Our e-commerce also saw an increase in orders. “We’re trying to move forward, and we are encouraged by the tremendous support and interest that it has generated. People have also sent us super nice emails. It’s overwhelming.”
Scotland Yard is on the trail of a criminal who used a fake French cheese buyer’s name, citing the real food distributor for which the person was employed as well as a popular French supermarket that he allegedly supplied.
The theft began with an email sent in July by someone who seemed to have a deep understanding of cheese. The person asked for 950 uncut wheels of cheddar cheese.
The perpetrators posed as a well-known European cheese distributor over a period of months. The alleged representative was able to draw up a contract with detailed payment terms and demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the cheese industry during the conversations.
A haulier, organised by the fraudster, collected half of the cheese from the warehouse of Neal’s Yard Dairy in Bermondsey (southeast London) at the end September.
The second delivery, arranged by Neal’s Yard themselves, was made by a trucker who was told to deliver the cheese to a warehouse located in north London. The haulier that delivered the cheese reported to the dispatcher that the warehouse “was not a typical warehouse for food”.
Neal’s Yard had been told that they would be paid within one week of the delivery, but at the beginning of October the supposed buyer of cheese was completely silent.
Then, they contacted the distributor they thought had placed the order. They quickly discovered that they were scammed.
Stewart said that the cheeses can be stored at the correct temperature for up to 18-months without them deteriorating, but once they are cut and sliced they will begin to dry out. Neal’s Yard paid all small suppliers in full and kept its promise to them.
She said that “anyone who runs a business will be very interested in the source of their products, from a safety perspective. We have no idea what these cheeses are going to do or where they could be sold.” I wonder if they already knew where it was going. Neal’s Yard, despite the financial blow it took, has paid its three small-scale cheesemakers fully.
Stewart stated, “I believe people are surprised that we paid the producers.” “That people seem surprised is surprising to me, because there was no question that it wouldn’t happen.” Stewart wanted to talk about the scam to help other people who might fall victim to similar criminals. She said, “It is interesting and depressing to see how many people have been defrauded themselves since we went public.”
“It’s quite horrifying. “It’s quite horrifying.”
The UK is home to the largest number of crimes, including fraud. More than 40% of all crime occurs in England and Wales. Adults aged 16 or older are estimated to have committed 3.5 million fraud incidents.
It is not reported as a crime. According to the Crime Survey of England and Wales, only 13% of victims report their cases to Action Fraud and/or the police.
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