Home Articles & letters news Warning after cashpoint bogus charity scam in Leigh

Warning after cashpoint bogus charity scam in Leigh

Conmen stole £200 from a woman after distracting her at a cashpoint with a charity scam.

It happened at the Lloyds TSB automated telling machine on Ellesmere Street in Leigh at about 12.30pm on 23 December 2011.

The woman, 38, put her card into the machine and entered her pin number, at which point she was approached by a man who showed her some sort of sponsorship form and acted as if he was deaf and dumb.

While distracted refusing to sign the petition, a second man snuck up and withdrew £200 from the machine. He then handed the woman the card claiming she had dropped it.

Both offenders then walked off in different directions.

The woman put her card back into the machine and withdrew a smaller sum of money, at which point she noticed on the receipt that £200 had seconds earlier just been withdrawn.

The first man was described as being about 17 or 18-years-old, with a tanned complexion, short dark hair and about 5ft 4in tall. He was said to be of a slim build and wearing scruffy clothing.

The second man was shorter but cannot be further described by the victim.

Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward and are asking people to be vigilant when withdrawing cash.

Police Constable Dougie Craigen, from the Leigh Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "It would appear these two men have come up with a well-rehearsed plan to distract this woman and steal cash from right under her nose.

"To dupe someone by pretending to have a disability or bogusly claiming to be from a charity is a low act and we need to stop these men in their tracks.

"I firstly want to appeal to anyone who may recognise the two men from the descriptions to call us. Perhaps you have seen these two men together or have seen them lurking around cash machines? If you have, we need to speak to you.

"I also want to urge anyone using a cash machine to be vigilant, particularly once you have entered your PIN number. This woman was caught totally unaware and had no reason to be on her guard - we are issuing this appeal so we can alert people to this potential scam and so they can be aware of who is around them when withdrawing cash."

Anyone with information should call police in Leigh on 0161 856 7291 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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