Diplomats and perplexed Moldovan citizens showed up at a man’s home after he erected a sign purporting to be the nation’s embassy as a “joke.”
24-year-old Hughie Shepherd-Cross posted his residence in Fulham, south-west London, as the Moldovan embassy on Google Maps, resulting in calls from puzzled citizens of the former Soviet state seeking guidance.
However, he has subsequently apologized for any “geopolitical uncertainty” and offense his joke may have caused diplomats and the people of Moldova.
Hughie stated, “I received many phone calls from perplexed Moldovan citizens whose number I had provided online to make the location appear more legitimate.”
Two foreign diplomats arrived seeking the embassy, and my roommate and I answered the door.
On Google Maps, 24-year-old Hughie Shepherd-Cross (seen outside his home with the phony plaque bolted to the door) advertised his Fulham residence as the Moldovan embassy.
In December of last year, according to Hughie, two foreign officials knocked on his door (shown) mistaking it for the actual Moldovan embassy.
The prankster continued, ‘Passersby and neighbors were very perplexed by the plaque and the bogus address that suddenly appeared on the road.
I apologize for any geopolitical confusion I may have caused; it was meant as a joke, and I did not intend to upset the people of Moldova.
The official Moldovan embassy is located a short distance away in Chiswick.
However, the High Commission for Grenada is located at the end of Hughie’s road, which sparked his inspiration.
The prankster claims that he posted his phone number online to make the address appear authentic and enlisted his buddies to post bogus reviews.
A few months passed, and his practical prank resulted in nothing save a few calls from Moldovans attempting to contact the embassy.
He claims that in December of last year, while he and his three housemates were at home, two foreign diplomats knocked on his door.
According to him, they were seeking the Embassy of Moldova, but their directions led them to Hughie’s false address.
Since then, Hughie has removed the plaque for the “Embassy of Moldova” from the front of his home.
Hughie stated, “The High Commission for Grenada is at the end of my street, so as a joke I decided to have a plaque created that reads “Embassy of Moldova.”
I affixed it to the outside of my home with screws and a bogus address, but nothing happened for months, and I eventually forgot it was there.
“When the two foreign diplomats arrived on my door, my housemates and I were dressed in jeans and t-shirts and had no idea who they were.
Because of the language barrier, we were unable to answer any of their queries. ‘They must have been very perplexed to see us standing in front of them, and we were unable to answer any of their questions.’
After a brief conversation with Hughie and his roommate, the two men departed.
Hughie has since removed the plaque, which he deemed an appropriate action.
Who knows what might have occurred if Putin had invaded Moldova while we still had the phony embassy address!