Scam-artists are targeting Cheshire motorists on roads including the M56, concocting sob stories in exchange for cash and valuables.
Victim John Doyle from Cheshire spoke to BBC Radio Five Live on Tuesday morning after recording a scammer who stopped him on the M56 pretending to have broken down and asked him for money.
Mr Doyle said he wasn’t sure he would ever stop and help a stranger again after the incident which he believed was ‘completely genuine’ at first and but took a few minutes to realise everything was not what it seemed.
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The man had asked for money for petrol saying he would pay double back the next day but when Mr Doyle offered to take the man to the nearest petrol station, the man refused, asking instead for £120.
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Cheshire police say there have been a number of similar attempted scams on British motorways in the past couple of weeks and are urging motorists to exercise caution when helping strangers.
A spokesperson for Cheshire police told The Chronicle: “We are currently aware of two incidents of roadside scammers operating in Cheshire and five others across the North West.
“In the reported cases, motorists have been flagged down by men from a supposedly broken down car. They have either asked the victims for cash so that they can buy fuel or pay for taxi fayres, or offered jewellery in exchange for cash.
“If you have been a victim of this type of crime in Cheshire please call Cheshire police on 101 quoting incident number 180 of September 29, or if you are in need of urgent assistance call 999,” the spokesperson added,
“Try and note the make, model and colour of any vehicles and the number of people involved and pass this on to us. Any information you provide us with can help to build up a bigger picture of what is happening.”
