'Disgusting' scammers spark fury as they flog Remembrance Day poppies and leave nothing for Army heroes

Many items found online ranged between £3 and £5, with the money going straight into the pockets of the fraudsters, rather than to noble veterans.

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence James Cartlidge slammed the scam as “disgusting”, adding: “The festival of Remembrance is when we honour those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, the last thing anyone should be doing is exploiting it.

“People who are buying items that relate to Remembrance should always check that the proceeds are going to the Royal British Legion or other British charities.”

An investigation by The Daily Express found that one of the false accounts unashamedly said its items were “suitable for Remembrance Day activities, soldiers, memorials, veterans…to honour the lives and memories of fallen soldiers”.

After contacting one seller and asking if they donated any of the proceeds to charity, they replied “we can not”.

Meanwhile, other vendors failed to reply at all to any messages sent inquiring about the profits.

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Former MP and Royal Green Jackets Captain Tobias Ellwood said that the scam was “sickening”.

He said: “Inspired by Colonel John McCrae’s moving poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ the poppy symbol has been central to RBL’s incredible fundraising efforts, supporting vets directly and other service charities, for over a century.

“To see the RBL’s brand now being ripped off for profit on eBay is both sickening and disturbing. I’d urge eBay to investigate and close these operations down.”

He advised people to only buy a poppy from the RBL to ensure that all money goes to those who deserve it.

There are around 50,000 legitimate poppy sellers in the UK who will take to the streets to sell the items between October 21 and November 11.

“100 per cent of the profits from the Poppy Shop go towards funding the Legion’s ongoing work in supporting the Armed Forces community, serving and ex-serving personnel and their families,” the charity said on its website.

Lucy Inskip, Director of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, said: “There’s no better way for the public to show they care than by donating to the RBL’s Appeal and wearing a poppy, it means so much to our Armed Forces community.”

In 2023, Border Force officials seized over £25,000 worth of counterfeit poppies, whilst 2017 saw a whopping £150,000 confiscated.