social engineering as deployed by the police

from [www.livejournal.com]

[news.bbc.co.uk]

Game show traps ‘wanted’ guests

A number of people wanted by police were duped into appearing on a fake TV game show, only to find themselves trapped by detectives.

Hampshire Police sent hoax letters to the homes of fine-dodgers and others wanted on court warrants, offering them the chance to win big cash prizes.

Twenty contestants were invited to Portsmouth Guildhall on Sunday to take part in the Great Big Giveaway Show. But instead of leaving as millionaires, 17 of them ended up under arrest. They were wanted for outstanding fines, traffic offences, common assault, criminal damage, drink-driving, drugs and bail offences.

The whole event, recorded for Channel Five, is to be broadcast later this year.

Comments

3 responses to “social engineering as deployed by the police”

  1. Tess
    re: social engineering as deployed by the police

    Why the need to take it as far as the red carpet sham? Why the need to make a tv show out of it? Since when did the police consider their arrests to be game for a laugh?

  2. alecm
    re: social engineering as deployed by the police

    perhaps this is the rise of the “showbiz| chief constable?

    one who realises that cheap stunts bring more kudos from conservatives than outlay required to change crime statistics?

  3. Brian Utterback
    re: social engineering as deployed by the police

    This is essentially the same trick as was depicted in the movie “Sea of Love” with Al Pacino.

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