Shopper loses £5,000 in street lottery-win scam

Two scammers concocted an elaborate sob story to manipulate a man into handing over £5,000.

The shopper was walking through Week Street in Maidstone at lunchtime when he was approached by an Asian woman who said she had won a large sum of lottery money.

The woman said she could not claim her winnings because her visa had expired.

Authorities say this con trick involves a foreign man posing as a complete stranger who happens to be walking by and becomes drawn into the conversation.

The scammers used props and tricks, including a winning lottery ticket, to convince the vic- tim the story was real. It happened around 1pm on Tuesday, November 10.

The woman sobbed throughout and even claimed her mother was dying and she wanted to see her, in a bid to provoke sympathy.

The victim’s son said his father was taken in by the story and was persuaded to collect the money from his bank. It was only much later he realised he had been conned.

Kent Police confirmed they are investigating an allegation of fraud where cash was taken.

Last year seven members of a gang of Romanian immigrants were jailed for preying on elderly and vulnerable shoppers at supermarkets in Maidstone.

They watched as people entered a PIN at cashpoints, then tricked them into believing they had dropped a £5 or £10 note before stealing their bank cards when they checked their wallets.

In March 2014 an elderly man had £11,000 plundered from his account. He was stopped at Morrisons in Sutton Road, Maidstone, and asked for directions to Maidstone Hospital. He later realised his bank cards had gone.

KCC’s head of Trading Standards, Steve Rock, said: “Most people naturally want to help someone in trouble. Scammers use these sad stories to exploit the kindness of people.”

Mr Rock urged people approached in this manner to avoid giving money or information and to refer them on to Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444 or contact police on 101 with details and descriptions.