Police warn of roadside scam in Sussex

12:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

Police are warning drivers about a series of scams on roadsides around Sussex.

Sussex Police received one report this week in regards to a potential road side scam in the area of Kirdford, near Chichester, but between October 1, 2012, and February 16, this year.

However, Hampshire Constabulary received 65 reports of such incidents on highways across the county.

Sussex Police said: “They attempt to flag down motorists, often claiming they are out of fuel. They state they have no cash or have lost or left their wallet elsewhere and will offer gold jewellery or, in some cases, a watch in exchange for money.

“Of the 65 incidents reported to Hampshire police, motorists were conned out of cash on 11 occasions.

“The amounts of cash vary from £10 up to £200 on one occasion.

“If you spot anyone acting suspiciously in this way at the roadside, please call police immediately. If possible, please take down the registration number of the vehicle.”

Comments(19)

Cave Johnson says...
12:31pm Thu 28 Feb 13

If you fall for this you are a mug!

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Crystal Ball says...
12:39pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I pulled over from the road once and got shafted. Driving away I realised I had just filled up with fuel.

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L1540 says...
12:52pm Thu 28 Feb 13

when my dad was in hospital in December we were getting into our car parked in the disabled badge holders area outside outpatients a young lady slightly dishevelled out of nowhere she came and took us by surprise, she claimed she had just left the hospital after spending all of the night before (saturday) due to someone spiking her drink anyways she said she didnt have a mobile or money and no way of getting back to Eastbourne... for one silly moment i almost gave her my phone to call a friend or family member but thought the hospital wouldve either done it for her or let her use the ward phones luckily i didnt have my handbag that night... on telling one of my daughters she said she was approached by the same sounding woman one or two nights later... so watch yourselves shes very convincing...

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Bob_The_Ferret says...
1:10pm Thu 28 Feb 13

In Brighton, these roadside scams are called parking ticket machines.

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Hoarder12345444 says...
1:42pm Thu 28 Feb 13

As harsh as it may sound I refuse to stop for anyone, even if they look in distress because of scams such as this. I don't trust anyone.

I certainly would never pick up hitchhikers who does that these days??

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nosolution says...
2:19pm Thu 28 Feb 13

One born every minute...

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Minion says...
2:51pm Thu 28 Feb 13

If someone flags down a motorist and sells him gold jewellery or a watch, where is the con? Are the goods fake?

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dawind says...
4:41pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Hoarder12345444 wrote:
As harsh as it may sound I refuse to stop for anyone, even if they look in distress because of scams such as this. I don't trust anyone.

I certainly would never pick up hitchhikers who does that these days??
You must frighten the children driving around with a face like it's just sucked a lemon and eyes twirling like a whirling dervish.

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RottingdeanRant says...
4:52pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I have often stopped to help others who have broken down and will continue to do so. The scam seems a bit short of info - they ask for cash, for fuel I suppose, and then how do they get to the petrol station? Normally, if someone needs fuel I take them to the petrol station, buy the min of fuel needed and then return them to their car. Can’t see they would gain much from that!

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sussexguy says...
5:25pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I don't see a problem here. It is wise always to contact the police when being flagged down on a road out of town (except by the police themselves). Whether or not it is a scam they can best deal with it.

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Charlie Oscar says...
6:19pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I BLAME THE COUNCIL

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hyram77 says...
6:34pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Similar scam in Brighton this week. The 3 eastern european gentleman were arrested on this occasion but no doubt their family and friends are still at large attempting thefts!

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John Steed says...
7:03pm Thu 28 Feb 13

a well known junkie i know in worthing claims her mother has just died and she needs money to get to crawley, I chuckle every time I hear her use it to try and scam someone to get the cost of a train ticket, sad thing is that when she is off her head she forgets she has used the excuse before and who on. she has knocked on my door 3 times this year to try it on, meanwhile a convincing (and convicted) scammer who has run out of petrol and needs to get home to lancing has also resurfaced and tried twice outside my premises. then there is the storeman at argos scam, the shop fitting scam, the list is endless.
golden rule is only give in church on a sunday or to the RNLI then at least you can be sure its for a good cause.

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monkeymoo says...
8:29pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I get scammed every year:

This particular group of people take lots of my hard earned money, and in return give me next to nothing. The little they do give me is constantly being reduced each year...even though they increase the amount of money they take.

Got to love Council Tax!

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mikey0867 says...
8:34am Fri 1 Mar 13

'Kirdford, near Chichester' 20 miles apart actually!

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BenUk says...
5:14pm Fri 1 Mar 13

while this country to expensive to live in there is going to be a lot more scam and cons to get money.
do you blame them? hard up people that need to live. £10 is hardly a scam is it that will just buy them lunch.

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displayed says...
5:11pm Mon 4 Mar 13

Probably on their way to London, theirs rich pickings for some!

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Dirk Von Roden says...
8:46am Tue 5 Mar 13

I have and will continue to pick up hitch hikers! I even advertise on Freecycle and Greencycle If I am going to the midlands with a near empty car! why not? I am not going out of my way or anything! I once picked up a gentleman who was hitch hiking to a job interview in Coventry ! dropped him off outside the place he needed to be got chatting on the way ! a month later I received free tickets to a concert at the o2 !! the chap got his job and sent me the tickets as I had said to him I enjoyed that artist ! I now get tickets fairly often (he is working in promotions) so its nice to be nice! by the way Greencycle and Freecycle is not just recycling offering lifts and services also helps the community!!

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Reg's Dad says...
7:30am Wed 6 Mar 13

The is a woman who walks around Kemptown doing similar - tallish, normally quite well dressed, around 5' 10", long straight dark brown hair. Her "car|" has always broken down and been clamped ( or something along these lines). She asks for money - but never remembers who she has tried to scam. She has approached me 5 times - I assume someone falls for it, or else she would keep it up. Please feel free to tell her to go and shove it!!
St George's Road / St James St/ Max Miller Walk area

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