Con Job: Man Pays £400 for Laptop and Phone, But Ends Up With Water Bottle and Cardboard

He thought he was buying a laptop and a phone for £400, but instead, ended up with water bottle and cardboard.   

Yes, it happened in Swindon, England last Thursday. A man approached the victim with a grey rucksack that had a brand new laptop as well as a mobile phone. He told the victim that he would sell it for £400 in cash.

The victim settled the deal, withdrew cash from an ATM and paid him. The fraudster collected the money, handed over the bag and sped off in a car. Later, when the victim opened the bag, he was shocked to find a cardboard and a bottle of water inside.

The incident took place around 2:40 p.m. on Thursday on Manchester Road, Swindon. The fraudster was reportedly driving a green Ford Mondeo.

According to a police spokesperson, the victim thought the man was trustworthy because he (the fraudster) also had some children in his car, "but in fact he was just looking for someone to deceive," Swindon Advertiser reports.

Police officials are investigating the incident.The also warned the public to be cautious of fraudsters after the incident.

Around this time of the year, meaning the holiday season, many families look to saving on gifts as they cannot afford, so if someone brings such deals to them, they readily give in.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: "At this time of year many families will feel under pressure to try to afford Christmas and may be looking for deals to save money," Metro reports.

The official further added that during this time, when people are vulnerable, criminals are on the prowl. They realize that a person would not be able to say "No" when lured into a "profitable" deal. The spokesperson for Wiltshire Police added: "However, there are many criminals out there ready to exploit this and unfortunately, this victim fell prey to this fraudster, leaving him seriously out of pocket." 

The fraudster has been described as a white man in his late 20s, who was 5'11" tall, had black hair and spoke a local accent. The children in his car were around 12 or 13 years old. The police have requested anyone with information on the fraudster to call 101 and leave information for PC Cath Hollands of the Crime management Unit.