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A hunt has been launched for a fake postman who conned a pensioner out of more than £10,000.
Today the first images of a man dressed in a Royal Mail jacket, who is suspected of tricking the OAP, have been released..
Police believe he is one of three people who conned a 67-year-old Southampton man out of £5,300 in cash – and a gold and diamond ring of an equal value.
The victim was approached outside his Newtown home. First a man and woman asked him for help and held out a letter. The victim said he was too busy and asked a passing pedestrian to help the couple. This man, who called himself Sharma, looked at the couple’s letter and suggested that all four people get into a parked black Volkswagen car.
Sharma said the letter confirmed a massive lottery win and gave the victim a telephone number to ring and check the winning numbers. Sharma then suggested that he and the victim should pay the couple for the letter and claim the fortune for themselves.
He produced £15,000 in cash and a quantity of gold jewellery, which he put into the car’s glove compartment. Sharma then suggested the victim take out a bank loan. When the victim complied, he put his money and ring into the glove compartment.
Then, the other man said he was ill and needed medicine. The victim was sent into a surgery to get medicine, but did not know what to ask for. When he went out to find the name of the medicine, the car was gone, along with his money and ring.
The man who called himself Sharma is described being aged about 30 and of Indian appearance. He spoke with a British accent and was about 5ft 6in, slim, and clean shaven with short black hair.
He wore an orange high-vis jacket with a small Royal Mail logo, black trousers and black shoes. He carried a maroon leather bag.
PC Samantha O’Hanlon, of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “The public should be aware of such scams and always remember not to part with money or valuables to someone you barely know.”
The victim was first approached at about 1pm on October 31.