Festive Tractor Parade Hit by Social Media Scammers
Organisers of a beloved Christmas charity event in Suffolk have expressed their disappointment after scammers targeted participants using fraudulent social media profiles. The Suffolk Tractor Light Parade, a community spectacle that raises thousands for charity, was infiltrated by individuals pretending to be event planners.
These fake profiles sent messages to drivers signed up for the parade, encouraging them to make a direct donation to a bank account. The genuine organisers have described the situation as both "frustrating" and "disappointing".
Swift Action by Volunteer Organisers
The scam was uncovered when a participant alerted volunteer organiser Liz Quickenden, 44. She discovered that a "very convincing" profile was contacting people on the event's page. The fraudster had blocked Mrs Quickenden and her husband from viewing their comments, allowing the activity to continue unnoticed.
"We took very swift action trying to close down comments and limiting all the posts so nobody can have any discussions about it," Mrs Quickenden told The Independent. Fortunately, it is believed that no one sent any money to the scammers.
Rural Community at Risk from Fraud
Mrs Quickenden, who works for the East of England Ambulance Service, highlighted the particular risk to their community. "We are in a very rural community and we have a lot of elderly people who enjoy this event," she said. "It’s always the worry that they will be the people targeted."
The parade was founded in 2021 after Mrs Quickenden noticed locals were choosing to heat their homes over putting on Christmas lights. Since then, the event featuring dozens of festively lit tractors has raised over £23,000 for good causes. This year's event is scheduled for 14 December.
The organisers have confirmed there are only two legitimate ways to donate:
- With cash on the night of the event.
- Through their official online donation page.
Mrs Quickenden plans to report the incident to Action Fraud and issued a stark warning to the public: "It’s really hard because we can’t stop them. It’s everywhere and they’re becoming very clever, very sly, and it’s catching people out. We absolutely don’t want that."
This incident reflects a wider problem, with recent research from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) finding that one in five adults had been targeted by scams in the past year, often starting on social media, email, or text.
