I like to think I am reasonably savvy but take heed. Last night my wife and I were on our way back from theatre in London to Wiltshire and needed a comfort break at Moto Reading West. It was about midnight.
A woman approached us as we came out of the services, saying how she normally wouldn't ask for help but her husband had driven off from their home having left his wallet on the roof of their car. They were now in a Reading with no means of paying for fuel and needed to get back to Cardiff. He was in the lorry lanes trying to get help off HGV drivers but as they were mostly foreign he wasn't having much luck. She would give us her phone number so that we could talk tomorrow and she could arrange to get us the money. She took my number in conversation and texted me on the spot so I had her number.
With my wife present, exit £20 from my wallet so she could buy enough fuel to get home. Happy to help.
Except the further west I drove, the more uncomfortable I became about the decision to be helpful.
Less than 24 hours later I can think of countless things I could have done to avoid being scammed. You will tell me I am foolish I'm sure
A text and phone call to the provided Lyca mobile later, no response from needy lady - did I expect one ? - with hindsight not really.
I phoned Thames Valley Police who seem to be well aware of this scam, possibly even the lady in question, as I was asked to give a description and obviously provided them a mobile phone number.
What possessed me was probably a combination of these things - woman on her own needing help, plausible story [if taken at surface level, late at night], not obviously druggie or smelling of alcohol, coherent, needy without being frantic, polite, helpful in the context of offering phone number to facilitate payback. And of course my wife being present, which apparently makes me a better "target" according to TVP anyway.
Worth £20 of my money to learn my lesson.
Be warned everyone - as a side issue my wife and I felt very uncomfortable INSIDE the service area (let alone what happened outside) and I am going to engage Moto in the idea that they might put security staff on to patrol in and out in the car park during late night hours, which could well result in scammers being less effective.
A woman approached us as we came out of the services, saying how she normally wouldn't ask for help but her husband had driven off from their home having left his wallet on the roof of their car. They were now in a Reading with no means of paying for fuel and needed to get back to Cardiff. He was in the lorry lanes trying to get help off HGV drivers but as they were mostly foreign he wasn't having much luck. She would give us her phone number so that we could talk tomorrow and she could arrange to get us the money. She took my number in conversation and texted me on the spot so I had her number.
With my wife present, exit £20 from my wallet so she could buy enough fuel to get home. Happy to help.
Except the further west I drove, the more uncomfortable I became about the decision to be helpful.
Less than 24 hours later I can think of countless things I could have done to avoid being scammed. You will tell me I am foolish I'm sure
A text and phone call to the provided Lyca mobile later, no response from needy lady - did I expect one ? - with hindsight not really.
I phoned Thames Valley Police who seem to be well aware of this scam, possibly even the lady in question, as I was asked to give a description and obviously provided them a mobile phone number.
What possessed me was probably a combination of these things - woman on her own needing help, plausible story [if taken at surface level, late at night], not obviously druggie or smelling of alcohol, coherent, needy without being frantic, polite, helpful in the context of offering phone number to facilitate payback. And of course my wife being present, which apparently makes me a better "target" according to TVP anyway.
Worth £20 of my money to learn my lesson.
Be warned everyone - as a side issue my wife and I felt very uncomfortable INSIDE the service area (let alone what happened outside) and I am going to engage Moto in the idea that they might put security staff on to patrol in and out in the car park during late night hours, which could well result in scammers being less effective.
