Under the Influence

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is the Real Hustle - Celebrity Scammers.

0:00:05 > 0:00:09In this series, the hustlers carry out scams that are bigger,

0:00:09 > 0:00:12tougher and more devious than ever before.

0:00:12 > 0:00:17With the help of their celebrity friends, hustlers Alex, Jess

0:00:17 > 0:00:24and Paul pull off the riskiest scams of all - long-cons.

0:00:24 > 0:00:30Intricate webs of lies and deception designed to separate the unwary from their money.

0:00:33 > 0:00:36On tonight's show, will Antony Costa bottle it?

0:00:36 > 0:00:40- So you've got a lot of nervous energy, haven't you? - I'm really nervous, yeah.

0:00:40 > 0:00:46- Does Alex blow it with these girls? - Oh!- Oh, my God!

0:00:46 > 0:00:49And will this guy get his answer?

0:00:49 > 0:00:51Are they fraudsters, by any chance?

0:00:53 > 0:00:54I need to know.

0:01:31 > 0:01:36The hustlers have invited celebrity friends to help them carry out their long-cons.

0:01:36 > 0:01:38They'll be thrown in at the deep end.

0:01:38 > 0:01:43No training and no practice, just straight into the scam.

0:01:45 > 0:01:48This week's guest hustler is former member of boy band Blue

0:01:48 > 0:01:53and current member of reformed man-band Blue, Antony Costa.

0:01:54 > 0:01:58I'm quite anxious more than anything. What the hustlers do is an amazing thing.

0:01:58 > 0:02:01I'm a big fan of the show, so I've seen what they're capable of doing.

0:02:01 > 0:02:03So, hopefully I'll be able to do it and be

0:02:03 > 0:02:08part of the team today and pull off a genuinely good scam to teach people at home not to get scammed.

0:02:12 > 0:02:17Antony has been told to go to a unit on this industrial estate and to wait for further instructions.

0:02:19 > 0:02:23He's already nervous about today's scam, and what

0:02:23 > 0:02:25Jess is about to tell him probably won't make him feel any better.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27- Hello.- Hi, how you doing?

0:02:27 > 0:02:29- You all right?- Come on in.

0:02:29 > 0:02:33- Nice to meet you.- Nice to see you. - How are you doing? Come on through.

0:02:33 > 0:02:36- How are you feeling?- Yeah, anxious.

0:02:36 > 0:02:38- I just want to know what's going on. - Oh, no!

0:02:38 > 0:02:44- You'll be fine, don't worry. I'll explain everything to you.- OK. - Basically, this is your warehouse.

0:02:44 > 0:02:47- Right.- And you sell cheap booze.

0:02:47 > 0:02:48- Cheap booze?- You sell cheap booze.

0:02:48 > 0:02:53So you sell booze for wholesale prices and it's called TRH Imports.

0:02:53 > 0:02:55Yeah? Simple so far.

0:02:55 > 0:03:00- Yeah.- So Antony will be playing the role of a drinks wholesaler.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03He'll need to sell his customers counterfeit brand-name vodka.

0:03:03 > 0:03:08It's all part of a plan to rope them in for a bigger scam later today.

0:03:08 > 0:03:12- Right, so this is where you're going to be making your sale.- Right, OK.

0:03:12 > 0:03:15We're not going to handle any of the cash. It's all down to you.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17- I'm a bit scared of things like that.- Why?

0:03:17 > 0:03:19Because I've never done anything like this.

0:03:19 > 0:03:22So, I know you've got my back, but it's a bit like...

0:03:22 > 0:03:26- You've got a lot of nervous energy, haven't you?- I'm really nervous, yeah.

0:03:26 > 0:03:29Basically this is going to start very soon now, so I'm going to leave you here.

0:03:29 > 0:03:31And there's your desk.

0:03:31 > 0:03:34You've got a cash flow there, so...

0:03:34 > 0:03:36- I'm really nervous, man.- Good luck.

0:03:36 > 0:03:38- OK, Jess.- OK?- Cheers.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44Some marks could be turning up at any moment,

0:03:44 > 0:03:49so Antony will have to settle his nerves and get ready for Under The Influence.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54Here are the marks. They've responded to an ad

0:03:54 > 0:03:59for discounted wholesale drinks and have put in an order over the phone.

0:04:00 > 0:04:04Antony puts on a wig and glasses to disguise his distinctive looks.

0:04:04 > 0:04:07If he gets recognised, this scam is going nowhere.

0:04:11 > 0:04:14- How you doing, mate, all right? - Hello, mate.- Come for the delivery?

0:04:17 > 0:04:20Yeah, hold on, mate, I'll just go and check the name. Egg!

0:04:20 > 0:04:21- Yeah?- Are they ready?

0:04:21 > 0:04:24Sounds like there's someone else working out back in the warehouse.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Two boxes of vodka. - All right, coming up.

0:04:27 > 0:04:29Cheers.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34Yeah, a couple of months ago.

0:04:34 > 0:04:37There's a receipt. Let me go and check what they're doing.

0:04:37 > 0:04:39- Egg!- Yeah?

0:04:39 > 0:04:41There you go.

0:04:41 > 0:04:43Yeah. Cheers, mate.

0:04:43 > 0:04:45There you go, mate.

0:04:52 > 0:04:55- Two boxes there. - Ta very much.- £204.

0:04:57 > 0:05:01- Oh, sod it, call it £200, man. - There you go, mate.- Top man.

0:05:01 > 0:05:06£200 for two boxes of premium vodka is an amazing deal.

0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Almost too good to be true. - Yeah, lovely.

0:05:09 > 0:05:11- All right, mate? Thanks very much. - Yeah, sweet as, mate.- Right.

0:05:11 > 0:05:12- Top boys.- Cheers.

0:05:14 > 0:05:15Let me show you out.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22- So far so good.- Just go through that way.- Antony sold the marks

0:05:22 > 0:05:26their cut-price alcohol and crucially, he didn't get recognised.

0:05:28 > 0:05:33And that mysterious guy in the warehouse was actually Alex.

0:05:33 > 0:05:37In disguise in case the marks glimpsed him through the door.

0:05:37 > 0:05:40He's about to meet them again straightaway and has

0:05:40 > 0:05:43just moments to change clothes for the next part of this scam.

0:05:46 > 0:05:51The marks leave happy with their discounted booze, but in just a few seconds,

0:05:51 > 0:05:55they'll wish they had never set foot in TRH Imports.

0:05:58 > 0:06:04Because just around the corner, there's a serious-looking official waiting to ruin their day.

0:06:04 > 0:06:06Can I ask you both to step outside of the car?

0:06:06 > 0:06:08- Yeah.- My name's Robert Marks.

0:06:08 > 0:06:10I work for Trading Standards.

0:06:10 > 0:06:14Comms check. I have the black BMW, RJ03 GNN.

0:06:14 > 0:06:18Confirm, black BMW, RJ03 GNN.

0:06:18 > 0:06:21- They've just been into the shop. - I've got them.

0:06:21 > 0:06:27The situation must be pretty serious, because here comes another Trading Standards officer.

0:06:27 > 0:06:30Did you just purchase something from the import company around the corner?

0:06:30 > 0:06:33All right, can I see the receipt if you have it?

0:06:33 > 0:06:35All right, can I explain to you what's going on?

0:06:35 > 0:06:40We're monitoring that company for illegal import and not paying duties.

0:06:40 > 0:06:42They're also supplying people with counterfeit goods.

0:06:42 > 0:06:44All right, can I ask what you bought?

0:06:45 > 0:06:47Could you open up the...

0:06:47 > 0:06:51The marks are not sure if they've broken the law themselves, so they do as they're told.

0:06:51 > 0:06:53- Yeah.- Those two there. OK.

0:06:53 > 0:06:55All right. I'll just fill this in.

0:06:57 > 0:06:59- This is what he charged you?- Yeah.

0:06:59 > 0:07:01Yeah, a bargain.

0:07:01 > 0:07:04Did you guys have a look at it beforehand?

0:07:07 > 0:07:09Are you the licence holder?

0:07:13 > 0:07:15It's probably watered down again, look.

0:07:15 > 0:07:17You can check that if you like.

0:07:17 > 0:07:21A sniff test confirms there's hardly any alcohol in this vodka.

0:07:23 > 0:07:27No wonder, because Jess poured most of the bottles' contents away earlier

0:07:27 > 0:07:30and filled them up with tap water.

0:07:30 > 0:07:35Not only have they been ripped off, they've also been caught taking watered-down spirits

0:07:35 > 0:07:38to sell back in their pub. They could be in a lot of trouble.

0:07:38 > 0:07:41- We're trying to build a case against him, all right?- Right.

0:07:41 > 0:07:45Technically you've just bought unlicensed goods for a licensed premises.

0:07:45 > 0:07:50What we'd like to do is, if you've only bought this much, it's not very good for us.

0:07:50 > 0:07:52And what I'd like to do is take you to

0:07:52 > 0:07:59another establishment nearby and we're going to try and use you to entrap them, OK?

0:07:59 > 0:08:03The marks think they've taken part in an illegal transaction.

0:08:03 > 0:08:07So, to clear their names, they've got no choice but to help these officials with their sting operation

0:08:07 > 0:08:11and put crooked wholesaler Antony behind bars.

0:08:12 > 0:08:19Of course, that sting operation is likely to be about as legit as a van full of watered-down vodka.

0:08:36 > 0:08:38When hustlers go out, they don't bring money.

0:08:38 > 0:08:41They go armed with prop bets.

0:08:43 > 0:08:48The customers in this bar are about to be made an offer that's hard to refuse.

0:08:48 > 0:08:53Win or lose a drink over a simple wager.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57- Right. - But a prop bet only has one rule.

0:08:57 > 0:09:02- Do you give up?- And that's that the hustler always wins. - Aw!- To the bar!

0:09:02 > 0:09:04- Drinks, please! Thank you.- Oh, no!

0:09:04 > 0:09:10- Alex is planning to make some new friends pay for his night out. - Look, I want to show you something.

0:09:10 > 0:09:16I had to buy this bottle, because they don't have this kind of wine. It's expensive taste, obviously.

0:09:16 > 0:09:19- Yeah.- £1.99.

0:09:19 > 0:09:24Now, the idea is this. You need to make this bottle fall over.

0:09:24 > 0:09:26- OK.- Just by blowing.

0:09:26 > 0:09:28You can't touch the bottle.

0:09:28 > 0:09:31Purely by the power of your breath.

0:09:31 > 0:09:33OK.

0:09:33 > 0:09:35So to win the bet, these guys have

0:09:35 > 0:09:39to make this full bottle of wine fall over using their breath alone.

0:09:39 > 0:09:41Impossible, surely?

0:09:41 > 0:09:44I think Helen, being a singer, is possibly the most qualified...

0:09:44 > 0:09:46Yeah, my lungs are pretty...Yeah.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49Because obviously she's got... I was going to say the lungs, but that's probably a bad choice of words.

0:09:49 > 0:09:54- Powerful voice.- Yeah. - So, I'm going to say she's got the power, being a singer.

0:09:54 > 0:09:56So I could sing a high note with...

0:09:56 > 0:09:58That would be so impressive!

0:09:58 > 0:10:00I would buy you drinks for the rest of your life.

0:10:00 > 0:10:03- Really?- Yeah.- OK!

0:10:03 > 0:10:07- Because that would be a neat trick. - SHE SINGS HIGH NOTE

0:10:07 > 0:10:08No. OK, that's not going to work.

0:10:08 > 0:10:11It would be so good if it just went, "crrrr", "crack".

0:10:11 > 0:10:13I got you!

0:10:15 > 0:10:18By the way, feel free to give up.

0:10:18 > 0:10:21OK, I'm going to try...

0:10:21 > 0:10:25- From the bottom.- Yeah? - You're blowing at the top which is kind of quite thin.

0:10:25 > 0:10:27- That's what I'm thinking. - Mmm.- Yeah.

0:10:29 > 0:10:32- No, this isn't working.- I don't think it even sort of nudged.

0:10:32 > 0:10:34If I show you how it's done, you get me a drink.

0:10:34 > 0:10:37Then next time you can do it to your friends and then

0:10:37 > 0:10:40- you get drinks. - And we can get drinks.

0:10:40 > 0:10:43And I know you will be doing this. Right.

0:10:43 > 0:10:48I do need...I do need one thing.

0:10:48 > 0:10:50OK, put the bottle on the bag.

0:10:50 > 0:10:54Now, I need you to just put your hands there because the bottle might go flying.

0:10:54 > 0:10:58So, by the power of your breath make the bottle blow over. Ready?

0:11:02 > 0:11:04Oh!

0:11:05 > 0:11:07Oh, my God!

0:11:08 > 0:11:12Alex just stood the bottle on the edge of the paper bag it came in and blew.

0:11:12 > 0:11:15Simple, if you know how.

0:11:27 > 0:11:29An ordinary suburban street.

0:11:29 > 0:11:34And an ordinary van belonging to TRH Satellite Solutions.

0:11:34 > 0:11:38The only thing that's out of the ordinary is that these satellite engineers

0:11:38 > 0:11:42don't actually have any customers.

0:11:42 > 0:11:44Not yet, anyway.

0:11:45 > 0:11:48This is The Satellite Switchoff.

0:11:50 > 0:11:53What about this one? There's a big dish. Let's go for this one.

0:11:53 > 0:11:59In this TV-loving nation, it doesn't take Alex and Paul long to find a home with a satellite dish outside.

0:12:03 > 0:12:06Alex picks up his toolbox and gets to work.

0:12:11 > 0:12:16But why would anyone need an engineer when there's nothing wrong with their satellite signal?

0:12:16 > 0:12:20Someone in this house is about to find out.

0:12:23 > 0:12:25- Hello there, good morning.- Hello.

0:12:25 > 0:12:28I'm a satellite engineer. We've had a report that they've switched you off?

0:12:31 > 0:12:33Do you want to have a check? Yeah?

0:12:33 > 0:12:36- Oop, sorry.- That's all right.

0:12:36 > 0:12:38Where is you're at? OK.

0:12:38 > 0:12:42I've had a report that there was a problem with the payment of the bill.

0:12:42 > 0:12:45This is the first the mark has heard about any problems

0:12:45 > 0:12:48with her satellite TV, so she checks her signal.

0:12:48 > 0:12:50Could you go into the menu for me and just have a look?

0:12:50 > 0:12:53There, so that is just going. Let me just call the office.

0:12:53 > 0:12:55Maybe they've made a mistake, in which case I can leave you alone.

0:12:55 > 0:12:57Everything seems to be working normally.

0:12:57 > 0:13:00Maybe there's nothing wrong with the account after all.

0:13:00 > 0:13:02Hello?

0:13:03 > 0:13:08Yeah, I'm at number 18 and there is no disconnection at the moment.

0:13:08 > 0:13:10Everything's working perfectly.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13All right, they're saying the September bill has not

0:13:13 > 0:13:16gone through and it is scheduled to be disconnected today.

0:13:16 > 0:13:20- Oh, right.- Well, I'm here and there's no disconnection.

0:13:20 > 0:13:23- OK.- But then...

0:13:23 > 0:13:24the picture's gone.

0:13:24 > 0:13:26Oh, OK, now it has gone.

0:13:26 > 0:13:29And there's an error message on the screen.

0:13:29 > 0:13:31So Alex was right - she has been cut off.

0:13:31 > 0:13:34I'm with the lady now. Do you want to have a word with her?

0:13:34 > 0:13:40He hands her over to a colleague in the accounts department to sort out this unfortunate mess.

0:13:40 > 0:13:43But this lady's day has just gone from bad to worse,

0:13:43 > 0:13:46because she's not really talking to the satellite company.

0:13:46 > 0:13:50She's just been put through to Jess, back at Hustler HQ.

0:13:50 > 0:13:55OK, well, I can see from my screen that your account hasn't actually been paid for three months

0:13:55 > 0:13:58and you are scheduled for disconnection today, I'm afraid.

0:13:58 > 0:14:01It's direct debit that normally pays it,

0:14:01 > 0:14:03so I can't understand why it wouldn't have been paid.

0:14:03 > 0:14:06Well, we have had a few account errors in the past where people

0:14:06 > 0:14:10- have actually paid but it hasn't shown up on the screen.- Right, OK.

0:14:10 > 0:14:13Actually, I think there may have been a mistake.

0:14:13 > 0:14:15It looks like your payments are actually up-to-date.

0:14:15 > 0:14:20We can reconnect you but it's going to take a week if you go through the Investigation Department.

0:14:20 > 0:14:22Right, OK. So I've got to go a week without Sky?

0:14:22 > 0:14:25So, there's been some kind of mistake with the mark's account

0:14:25 > 0:14:28and it's going to take a week to sort out. Unless...

0:14:28 > 0:14:31Well, the other option is that we can reconnect you now,

0:14:31 > 0:14:34but we are going to have to take your credit card details.

0:14:34 > 0:14:37- She doesn't look convinced.- Oh, OK.

0:14:37 > 0:14:41Under these circumstances, we're not going to take a payment from the card,

0:14:41 > 0:14:44but we do need the card on file so that we can reconnect you.

0:14:45 > 0:14:49OK. Bear with me one second, I'll just get my purse. One minute.

0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Do you want me to hold onto that? - Yeah. Do you want to take a seat. Sure.

0:14:51 > 0:14:59Now happy that the reconnection fee won't actually be charged to her card, she goes to find her wallet.

0:14:59 > 0:15:03- Hello?- Hello there. If you could give me the long number on the front of the card, please.

0:15:03 > 0:15:08- She gives Jess the necessary card details.- Expiry date?

0:15:10 > 0:15:13And lastly the three-digit security number on the back of your card.

0:15:13 > 0:15:17That's wonderful. We should be reconnecting you within the next couple of hours.

0:15:17 > 0:15:20Easy. One happy customer.

0:15:20 > 0:15:25But she's just given her credit card details to a complete stranger on the phone.

0:15:25 > 0:15:29All the information a criminal would need to run up thousands of pounds of debt on the mark's account.

0:15:29 > 0:15:31Sorry about that.

0:15:31 > 0:15:33- Thank you.- That's lovely. Thank you.

0:15:33 > 0:15:35Time to get out of there.

0:15:35 > 0:15:37Bye-bye. Have a good day.

0:15:45 > 0:15:49It could turn out to be a very profitable day for these engineers,

0:15:49 > 0:15:53driving around and looking for more houses with a satellite dish.

0:16:01 > 0:16:04But how did Alex know that the lady's signal was about to go dead?

0:16:08 > 0:16:12That's where Paul came in, who was loitering outside near the satellite dish.

0:16:12 > 0:16:15He could just see inside the front room without being spotted.

0:16:15 > 0:16:19There is no disconnection at the moment.

0:16:19 > 0:16:22After giving Alex a pre-arranged 30 seconds, he used some pliers...

0:16:22 > 0:16:28And just cut the satellite cable. It was as simple as that.

0:16:28 > 0:16:34I feel a bit silly that I fell for him taking my credit card details.

0:16:34 > 0:16:38But him being on the phone and having someone on the other end of the phone...

0:16:38 > 0:16:44I did ask questions about it but it all seemed very, very real, I suppose.

0:16:46 > 0:16:52This scam is so convincing for the marks. We've got Alex turning up in his uniform with a toolbox, and then

0:16:52 > 0:16:57they're told that their satellite's going to get cut off and the next minute they're disconnected.

0:16:57 > 0:17:00Don't be easily convinced by a name badge and some phoney credentials.

0:17:00 > 0:17:03If someone turns up at your door unexpectedly,

0:17:03 > 0:17:07call the company yourself with a number that you get from the phone book or from the internet.

0:17:07 > 0:17:11Just don't use the number that they give you.

0:17:19 > 0:17:27Earlier today, Antony Costa posed as a drinks wholesaler and sold these marks some watered-down vodka.

0:17:27 > 0:17:29- Call it £200, man. - There you go, mate.- Top man.

0:17:29 > 0:17:32The customers were then stopped outside by the hustlers...

0:17:32 > 0:17:38- We're monitoring that company. - ..and persuaded to take part in a Trading Standards sting...

0:17:38 > 0:17:41We're going to try and use you to entrap them, OK?

0:17:41 > 0:17:44..to put crooked retailer Antony behind bars.

0:17:44 > 0:17:48In Under The Influence, part two.

0:17:51 > 0:17:54The hustlers have led the way to a rugby club just down the road.

0:17:56 > 0:17:59This will be the location for the sting.

0:17:59 > 0:18:01We're now in location.

0:18:01 > 0:18:04Another officer is already waiting for them inside.

0:18:04 > 0:18:09It's Jess, whose job it is to make it seem like

0:18:09 > 0:18:14this place has been swarming with undercover officers and surveillance technicians until a few moments ago.

0:18:14 > 0:18:18- How are we getting on? - Hello. Yeah, great. Everything's finally got a great wide shot.

0:18:18 > 0:18:19- Where are the boys? - They're right there.

0:18:19 > 0:18:22- So you've got a great shot, so the booze could go here.- OK.

0:18:22 > 0:18:26So it sounds like the whole joint is wired with surveillance equipment.

0:18:26 > 0:18:31- But you didn't get a look at... - But how exactly are the marks going to help trap Antony?

0:18:31 > 0:18:34- Is it ready?- We need to get him on a sizeable amount of money.

0:18:34 > 0:18:38In excess of £1,000.

0:18:38 > 0:18:42If he is seen receiving that amount of money, we could put him in jail for over three years.

0:18:42 > 0:18:46We're not going to proceed against you in any way or against your licensed property.

0:18:46 > 0:18:49All we want you to do is make a purchase, knowing from us that you're

0:18:49 > 0:18:52going to get that money back and that you're not keeping that stock.

0:18:52 > 0:18:55That puts you completely in the clear. You guys can go home.

0:18:55 > 0:18:57So they want them to put in a phone order with Antony...

0:18:57 > 0:19:01- Get the money.- And catch the delivery on camera as evidence.

0:19:01 > 0:19:04They'll then arrest him on the spot and put him behind bars.

0:19:04 > 0:19:08But the big question is, do the marks have any more money?

0:19:08 > 0:19:10Is that your money or is that your employer's money?

0:19:10 > 0:19:13OK. How much more money do you have on you?

0:19:14 > 0:19:18They're so anxious to get themselves out of trouble...

0:19:18 > 0:19:23..they never question why they should supply the funds for the sting operation.

0:19:23 > 0:19:26- Yeah.- Yeah, there's not enough. Yeah.

0:19:26 > 0:19:28Can you do that right now, please?

0:19:28 > 0:19:32They make a call to their boss to see if they can get any more money.

0:19:32 > 0:19:35Have you explained to him what's going on?

0:19:38 > 0:19:40- OK.- As quickly as you can, please. That's great.

0:19:40 > 0:19:44Things are looking up. One of the marks heads off to get the cash.

0:19:44 > 0:19:48Just so you know, what we've done is we've got a hidden camera right here, OK?

0:19:48 > 0:19:50That's going to see everything when he comes in.

0:19:50 > 0:19:53Meanwhile, Paul points out a surveillance camera.

0:19:53 > 0:19:56More proof that this whole set-up is legit.

0:19:56 > 0:20:00He should want to deliver it quickly, because I think the cash goes straight into his pocket, frankly.

0:20:00 > 0:20:04If he stays true to form, he'll be over here like a shot, OK?

0:20:05 > 0:20:07Here comes the money.

0:20:07 > 0:20:09The sting is on.

0:20:12 > 0:20:14I'd like to do this on camera.

0:20:14 > 0:20:16Susie, why don't you roll just now, please?

0:20:19 > 0:20:21That's 1,000? That's lovely.

0:20:23 > 0:20:26Alex and Paul only asked for £1,000.

0:20:26 > 0:20:32But, to their delight, the marks now have £2,000 in cash.

0:20:32 > 0:20:36- Yeah.- Well, the more amount of money we have, the stronger case we have.

0:20:36 > 0:20:41- Yeah.- Yes. - So if you have the cash here, that would be perfect.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. - Yeah, yeah.- Absolutely.

0:20:44 > 0:20:50In addition to the surveillance camera, the mark is also told he has to wear a wire.

0:20:50 > 0:20:53I'm just going to give you this. Just drop it down there.

0:20:53 > 0:20:56Ever done this sort of thing before, Neil?

0:20:56 > 0:20:58Really?

0:20:59 > 0:21:01Exactly.

0:21:01 > 0:21:05The hustlers give the marks a drinks list that should come to the two grand mark.

0:21:05 > 0:21:09- Time to make that call to Antony. - Yeah, very good. Are you ready?- Yeah.

0:21:09 > 0:21:11OK. That should be their number.

0:21:13 > 0:21:14PHONE RINGS

0:21:18 > 0:21:21Hello, TRH Imports. Danny speaking, how may I help?

0:21:21 > 0:21:25Hello, it's Neil. I just came up and picked up two crates of vodka off you.

0:21:25 > 0:21:29- Oh, hello, Neil. How are you doing? - The guest hustler sounds as nervous as the mark.

0:21:29 > 0:21:32He can't let on that he knows all about the sting operation.

0:21:32 > 0:21:34We've got a private party coming up here, mate.

0:21:34 > 0:21:37- Can you do this delivery for me, ASAP if you can?- Yeah.

0:21:37 > 0:21:41Well, I'm at the rugby club. That's where it's going to be.

0:21:41 > 0:21:42But my landlord's coming down. It's a surprise one.

0:21:42 > 0:21:45But if you could get it all here. I've got permission to put it here.

0:21:45 > 0:21:48Absolutely fine, mate. What would you like to order?

0:21:48 > 0:21:51Right, I want two champagne if you've got it.

0:21:51 > 0:21:53- Right, OK, yeah.- Three vodka.

0:21:53 > 0:21:56The mark takes Antony through the sizeable order, as instructed.

0:21:56 > 0:22:00- Tell us how much it's going to be. - More than Antony was expecting.

0:22:00 > 0:22:03- Smirnoffs. - He quickly tots up the total.

0:22:03 > 0:22:05It's going to come to about two grand.

0:22:05 > 0:22:07- I've got the cash here, mate, if you want it?- Fantastic.

0:22:07 > 0:22:09I will see you there, mate.

0:22:09 > 0:22:12- Cheers, bud. Thanks a lot, Dan. Bye-bye.- Bye.

0:22:12 > 0:22:17We're going to be in the room right next door and we're going to catch it all.

0:22:17 > 0:22:22It's imperative that when he leaves, you guys need to stay in the room.

0:22:22 > 0:22:24If you're present at the arrest, you have to fill in forms,

0:22:24 > 0:22:28get implicated in the arrest as witnesses, you might be called to court.

0:22:28 > 0:22:31- You don't want any of that stuff, OK?- Yeah.

0:22:31 > 0:22:34The success of this scam is now all down to Antony.

0:22:34 > 0:22:39The hustlers have done all they can, but he needs to go and take hold of that money.

0:22:39 > 0:22:43- This money will definitely be back today?- Oh, no doubt about it. No, he can't go anywhere with it.

0:22:45 > 0:22:48- It's showtime! - So stay there. Let him come to you.

0:22:48 > 0:22:49Yeah.

0:23:04 > 0:23:05HE MUMBLES BLEEP

0:23:06 > 0:23:08All right, Dan. Yeah, mate.

0:23:08 > 0:23:13- Antony's extremely nervous about scamming these guys, but mustn't let on.- Cheers.

0:23:13 > 0:23:19And this guy is wearing a wire, thinking he's up against some kind of criminal mastermind.

0:23:24 > 0:23:28He knows that the drinks are worthless, and Antony knows that he knows.

0:23:28 > 0:23:30Each one trying to keep up the act.

0:23:30 > 0:23:32Smart venue, isn't it, for a party?

0:23:35 > 0:23:36There you go, mate.

0:23:37 > 0:23:38Yeah.

0:23:38 > 0:23:41Now it's time for the crucial moment.

0:23:41 > 0:23:45- The marks have already been scammed by Antony once.- Yeah.

0:23:45 > 0:23:50Will they really hand over two grand for booze they know is counterfeit?

0:23:50 > 0:23:54- Yeah.- If there's anything that needs to be done, I'll go back and get it.

0:23:54 > 0:23:56Yeah, that's all right.

0:23:56 > 0:23:57Sweet. Cheers, mate.

0:23:57 > 0:24:00- Thanks. - Cheers, fella.- Cheers.- Top man.

0:24:00 > 0:24:02They certainly will.

0:24:03 > 0:24:06Antony leaves with the two grand of cold, hard cash.

0:24:11 > 0:24:14The marks stay inside the building, just as they were told,

0:24:14 > 0:24:20expecting Trading Standards and the police to rush onto the scene and arrest the crooked trader.

0:24:24 > 0:24:27But the only rushing being done is by the hustlers,

0:24:27 > 0:24:33who sneak out the back and into the conveniently parked Hustle van.

0:24:35 > 0:24:40Meanwhile, Antony is free to drive off with all that money.

0:24:41 > 0:24:47Unbelievable. Within two hours I've scammed just over £2,000. I can't believe it.

0:24:47 > 0:24:51I felt so bad! I just wanted him to get out of that warehouse in the beginning, just like, "Yeah, yeah,

0:24:51 > 0:24:55"the one-way street's fine," because I didn't want him to question me.

0:24:55 > 0:24:58I probably would have flaked and gone, "Sorry, mate, there you go."

0:24:58 > 0:25:00I'm going to be so careful in future.

0:25:00 > 0:25:02It's taught me a lesson.

0:25:05 > 0:25:11Back at the rugby club, 15 minutes of waiting in silence have become too much to bear for the marks.

0:25:11 > 0:25:14I've got to go and find out.

0:25:20 > 0:25:23They take a peek in one of the boxes.

0:25:23 > 0:25:28Sure enough, it's full of cheap bottled water.

0:25:29 > 0:25:31- BLEEP- don't believe that.

0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Unbelievable.- BLEEP.

0:25:37 > 0:25:40They already knew that Antony is a scam artist.

0:25:40 > 0:25:46But suddenly the penny drops and they realise the whole horrible truth.

0:25:46 > 0:25:51- They haven't gone? They haven't- BLEEP- done us up completely, have they?

0:25:51 > 0:25:53- Huh?- I think we've been had over.

0:25:54 > 0:25:57There are no officials with surveillance equipment in here.

0:25:59 > 0:26:04It's just a tiny storeroom leading straight to the back exit.

0:26:06 > 0:26:09Their worst fears are confirmed.

0:26:09 > 0:26:13Not only were they sold £200-worth of counterfeit alcohol,

0:26:13 > 0:26:17they fell for the exact same scam all over again.

0:26:17 > 0:26:20- They've... - But this time for two grand.

0:26:20 > 0:26:23They've just done us big time, Ed.

0:26:23 > 0:26:25Are they fraudsters, by any chance?

0:26:27 > 0:26:30I need to know, because what I've done is I've just...

0:26:30 > 0:26:33I've just gone up to buy some alcohol and they've stopped me

0:26:33 > 0:26:38from buying it saying, no, this is a dodgy place where I bought it from.

0:26:38 > 0:26:39I'm lost for words here now.

0:26:43 > 0:26:45- Right.- Hooray!

0:26:45 > 0:26:48Customs, what I thought were Customs, brought us down here.

0:26:48 > 0:26:52Got some money and I've just passed all the money over... And...

0:26:54 > 0:26:56That easy, is it?

0:26:56 > 0:26:59Can I go and see that camera hole I was counting the money out

0:26:59 > 0:27:01and see if there was a camera in there, please?

0:27:07 > 0:27:11- It's a box.- That camera is as fake as the whole sting operation.

0:27:11 > 0:27:13It's just an empty box.

0:27:16 > 0:27:19This is a very convincing situation for the marks, because Alex and Paul

0:27:19 > 0:27:25are both dressed up as Trading Standards Officers so immediately look like they're in authority.

0:27:25 > 0:27:30The marks don't really have much choice apart from to comply and do what they're told.

0:27:30 > 0:27:33The authorities will never ask you as an individual

0:27:33 > 0:27:36to part with your own money to help them catch somebody.

0:27:36 > 0:27:41If they come to you legitimately and want you to help them to catch criminals,

0:27:41 > 0:27:46they will tell you exactly what they want you to do and they will provide you with the resources to do it.

0:27:46 > 0:27:49Never, ever, part with your own money in these circumstances.

0:28:01 > 0:28:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:28:03 > 0:28:05E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk