Laptop scam alert (From Stroud News and Journal)

Laptop scam alert

A MAN who paid £300 for a laptop computer arrived home to find he had bought two bottles of lemonade and some cardboard.

police are warning shoppers to be on their guard after the man, from Rodborough's Oak Drive, fell victim to a conman with a strong Irish accent who approached him in Stroud last Wednesday.

The swindler, who was driving a white Vauxhall Astra and accompanied by two other men, offered the man a bargain laptop for £300 while he was out shopping for Christmas presents.

The man was shown the laptop and went to the bank to withdraw the money. He then returned to the crooks' car where he was handed what he believed to be the laptop in a hold-all.

But when his girlfriend opened the bag at home, all it contained was lemonade bottles and cardboard which had been used to pad it out.

By this point the Irishman and his accomplices were long gone with his hard-earned money.

"When I opened the case and saw the lemonade my heart dropped and I knew we'd been had," said the victim's partner. "It's such a mean trick to play on someone right before Christmas, it's supposed to be the season of goodwill and money's always tight around this time of year."

Police spokesman Matt Ford said: "Our advice would be to only buy from reputable shops and dealers. "If you are offered goods for sale door to door you should decline.

"But certainly if you are going to purchase goods check the authenticity before handing over the money."

The Irishman was described as around 5ft 9ins, between 25 and 30 with short black hair and sideburns and wore a long woollen coat that came down to his calves. Anyone with information on the scam should contact Stroud police on 0845 0901234 or Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555111.