Cheshire Police are warning businesses to be vigilant against a scam which tricks them into giving money away.
The con, referred to as 'ringing the changes' works by confusing staff into handing over more money than they have been given.
Two businesses in Wilmslow town centre have been targeted by conmen in recent weeks.
On Sunday, 24th February, a male tried to swap money in the Mulberry Bush Café and con staff out of more money.
A similar incident occurred in Starbucks on January 27th.
PCSO Jim news explained "The scam involves shop staff exchanging sums of money to a seemingly innocent customer seeking change. In truth, the customer is a practiced criminal who relies on some well-rehearsed patter and sleight of hand to take full advantage of shop worker's good will. Very often it is only when the so-called customer has left that the deception is discovered.
"Variations on the theme have been applied across the UK and include receiving change and then immediately cancelling the transaction while failing to return an amount of cash, or changing money to foreign currency accepting it and then cancelling the deal and not returning a portion of the money. Persons also pay for an item and when receiving change say they handed over a larger amount to pay."
Please call Town Centre 01625 383686 if you suspect a person of trying this scam so they can monitor the suspect and call Cheshire Police 101 for a prompt response.
Comments
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On this particular day, I had to go down to the bank - just a few yards away - to pay in the takings. I left my youngest daughter to run things in the shop while I was gone. Shortly afterwards, two teenage girls came in and purchased some batteries and, tendering a five
pound note, were given the correct change.
They then made some small talk, for a couple of minutes, after which, the girl who had made the purchase looked at her change and said to my daughter that she had given her a ten
pound note for the batteries.
I returned from the bank at that moment, just as the girl was becoming really insistent that she was telling the truth - with her accomplice backing her up.
My daughter explained to me what had taken place, and I asked the girl if she was absolutely certain that it was a ten pound note that she had tendered. She was. I then beckoned her over to the till, opened it, and asked her if she could see the note in there. Of course, there weren't any, as I had just banked them all. There were only fivers and loose change in the float.
Oh, dear! The girls hurriedly apologised and scurried off.