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Scams and fraud

Egg Scam

(65 Posts)
Devorgilla Sat 07-Feb-26 20:36:01

I read this in the papers this morning. Shoplifters are 'cracking ways to steal premium eggs'. They switch the more expensive eggs for the standard eggs into the respective cartons. The eggs can be identified by the symbol on them. Crown for the superior ones, lions for the standard. I instantly checked mine in the fridge and found I had indeed been scammed. I will be more vigilant from now on.

Georgesgran Sat 07-Feb-26 20:42:54

Years ago, DD2 worked on the checkouts in M&S and had to check that the small chicken joints (in foil containers in a cardboard sleeve) hadn’t been swapped for a more expensive beef joint, but kept in the chicken sleeve.

Tizliz Sat 07-Feb-26 21:55:41

British class A eggs are stamped with a lion

fancyflowers Sat 07-Feb-26 22:05:45

Who could be bothered doing this? Call me an idiot, but to me an egg is an egg.

They're either large or small. I use large for scrambled eggs and small for boiled or fried eggs. I honestly couldn't care much about what stamp they have on them.

nanna8 Sat 07-Feb-26 22:17:05

Oh - talk about desperados. Who’d do that ?

Allira Sat 07-Feb-26 22:19:09

Our supermarkets are so busy I'm sure someone would notice if someone was doing that.

Allira Sat 07-Feb-26 22:21:27

www.farminguk.com/News/shoppers-warned-over-egg-box-swapping-scam-in-supermarkets_67970.html

I always check the eggs to make sure they're not cracked.

Fallingstar Sat 07-Feb-26 22:27:12

Allira

www.farminguk.com/News/shoppers-warned-over-egg-box-swapping-scam-in-supermarkets_67970.html

I always check the eggs to make sure they're not cracked.

I do this too, always looking at the eggs and moving them slightly to make sure they are not stuck in the the container due to leakage. And I look at the bottom of the container to make sure no leakage is seeping through. It’s what my old mum always did.

kittylester Sun 08-Feb-26 08:34:29

We buy ours from a farm nearby. The eggs are free range, fresher and cheaper No scamming there.

ViceVersa Sun 08-Feb-26 08:36:09

kittylester

We buy ours from a farm nearby. The eggs are free range, fresher and cheaper No scamming there.

We do the same. Ours come from a little smallholding almost on our doorstep. You can see the chickens roaming around free and happy.

Oreo Sun 08-Feb-26 08:38:27

Fallingstar

Allira

www.farminguk.com/News/shoppers-warned-over-egg-box-swapping-scam-in-supermarkets_67970.html

I always check the eggs to make sure they're not cracked.

I do this too, always looking at the eggs and moving them slightly to make sure they are not stuck in the the container due to leakage. And I look at the bottom of the container to make sure no leakage is seeping through. It’s what my old mum always did.

So did my Mum and still does and so do I.

BlueBelle Sun 08-Feb-26 08:41:11

I find this hard to believe it would take a minute or two and some space on the shelf to swap 6 eggs over from one carton to another and for what ….a slightly bigger egg!
Many of us haven’t got a nearby farm shop so a supermarket is our only option I see people checking as I do that none are cracked but beyond that I m surprised if this is a thing

Primrose53 Sun 08-Feb-26 08:43:32

These days there are scams for everything. The other day I was reading about a Bulgarian man who was travelling around in a big van picking up used cooking oil from care homes etc without permission. Apparently it’s worth quite a lot. Police found him with huge barrels of it.

Oreo Sun 08-Feb-26 09:22:07

Primrose53

These days there are scams for everything. The other day I was reading about a Bulgarian man who was travelling around in a big van picking up used cooking oil from care homes etc without permission. Apparently it’s worth quite a lot. Police found him with huge barrels of it.

What an oily character 🤭

Sarnia Sun 08-Feb-26 09:22:13

We keep 5 chickens so are scam free. Good thread though I was not aware of this happening.

nanna8 Sun 08-Feb-26 09:26:06

I get Aldi free range here - they are cheaper than all our other supermarkets. About $4.50 a dozen for nice large eggs.

Witzend Sun 08-Feb-26 09:27:13

Primrose53

These days there are scams for everything. The other day I was reading about a Bulgarian man who was travelling around in a big van picking up used cooking oil from care homes etc without permission. Apparently it’s worth quite a lot. Police found him with huge barrels of it.

Didn’t anyone at the care home check his credentials? Assuming they already had some sort of arrangement for this.

Wyllow3 Sun 08-Feb-26 09:33:01

fancyflowers

Who could be bothered doing this? Call me an idiot, but to me an egg is an egg.

They're either large or small. I use large for scrambled eggs and small for boiled or fried eggs. I honestly couldn't care much about what stamp they have on them.

Ooo, the difference in flavour is worth the extra bob or two, I dont make cakes as it happens but wouldn't bother for that, however for a super omelette or dippy eggs - all the difference if they are "posh".

BlueBelle Sun 08-Feb-26 09:33:56

Sounds like the care home was in on it too
I think MacDs advertise that they reuse their cooking oil, after something is done to it, to use in their vans and lorries. I believe there is money in collecting used cooking oil I suppose he was being clever to try and start up a business in it
How can you pick up cooking oil without permission ?? Break into the kitchen at night time ???

Wyllow3 Sun 08-Feb-26 09:37:02

Gosh, is it just Bulgarians we have to look out for Primrose? I'll be extra vigilant 🤣.

Grammaretto Sun 08-Feb-26 09:46:39

I'm an egg snob. I only buy mine from our community shop or when my friend who keeps hens gives me some.
No stamps at all but lovely yellow yolks.

There's been an outbreak of bird flu here recently so free range are not so easy to get hold of.

kittylester Sun 08-Feb-26 10:18:01

Our free range eggs are from hens being less free ranging than previously . In some ways that is better as I always feared running over one of two going up the drive. The grandchildren loved it though.

Primrose53 Sun 08-Feb-26 10:59:04

BlueBelle

Sounds like the care home was in on it too
I think MacDs advertise that they reuse their cooking oil, after something is done to it, to use in their vans and lorries. I believe there is money in collecting used cooking oil I suppose he was being clever to try and start up a business in it
How can you pick up cooking oil without permission ?? Break into the kitchen at night time ???

I understand the care homes store their used cooking oils outside in large barrels.

Primrose53 Sun 08-Feb-26 11:04:00

Wyllow3

Gosh, is it just Bulgarians we have to look out for Primrose? I'll be extra vigilant 🤣.

Mainly Bulgarians apparently. No idea why. They operate all over the country.

share.google/NclKSehM2rSx73ksu

Primrose53 Sun 08-Feb-26 11:05:25

Sorry, that link does not work but it’s all on AI.