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Search forPensioner falls foul of scammers in Purley Tesco car park
Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 08:30
Last week, a Coulsdon resident became the latest victim of the scam, this time being run from the car park of the Purley Cross Tesco.
The 60-year-old woman, who does not want to be named, reported how two "very charming Irish men" approached her last Wednesday and told her their company had gone bust.
The duo, who were selling stock from the back of a white and silver van, claimed to be selling off their remaining stock and had only two TVs left.
She said: "Me being all trusting did the most foolish thing I have ever done in all my 60 years, I handed over money and took this TV home."
When she unwrapped it, she found the screen was smashed and the TV would did not work.
"What an idiot you must be saying, but these crooks are experts and prey on lone vulnerable women," she added.
Croydon Trading Standards first issued a warning over these types of scams around Christmas following a spate in the borough.
They had just seized a load of plasma TVs being sold from the back of a white van in Valley Park Retail Park in Purley Way, for a fraction of their retail price.
Officers were tipped off by a woman who reported paying £300 for a TV from the white van man, which hadn't worked from the moment she got home.
A council spokesman added: "In most cases of electrical goods being sold, the items have been dumped by their rightful owners, and they have then been picked up by unscrupulous and illegal traders and sold on, sometimes for as much as £300 or £400.
"We'd urge anybody to steer a wide berth around people selling items – electrical goods, clothing, perfume, anything – from the backs of vans.
"If you're being offered a TV that's not in a brand-identifiable box and has no paperwork or instruction booklet, don't go near it.
To report any similar incidents, call the ConsumerDirect helpline on 08454 04 05 06.
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