Alderman Falls Victim to Credit to Credit Card Snatch Scam

Published on: 21 Aug, 2013
Updated on: 22 Aug, 2013

Bernard Parke

A well known Guildford resident was left angry today after he had fallen victim to a credit card snatch scam.

Hon Alderman Bernard Parke said: “I was shopping in the food hall at Marks and Spencer and checked out at the self service terminals which appeared deserted.

“Then, as I was leaving at the North Street exit a woman with a strong foreign accent and a man approached me with a five pound note saying that I had dropped it. I  thanked her and attempted to put the £5 note in my wallet but they grabbed it saying my wallet might have a hole in it. ”

“Realising something was wrong I started shouting at them and snatched my wallet back. They then hurried away.

“When I checked, I realised that the man had taken my credit card under the cover of a tourist leaflet he was holding.

“I returned home and informed the credit card company who told me that £400, in three transactions, had already been taken from my account within ten minutes.

“M&S told me that their cctv system showed the male had crept up behind me with his mobile phone whilst I was at the checkout and had used his phone to film me putting in my PIN.

“I have been left feeling foolish but I suspect most would have reacted the same way. I want the story publicised so that others do not fall victim to similar crimes.

“One lesson perhaps is to report card losses immediately. I did not have a mobile phone or the relevant telephone number so, unfortunately, had to go home first.

“I have recently been subject to a burglary and a theft from my car so the reports that crime rates are falling ring a bit hollow with me. The police officer I spoke to said that such crimes are quite commonplace in our town.”

A police spokes person commented: “The suspect was described as white, possibly Eastern European, in her early 30s and she was with a man, also Eastern European in his early 30s with dark hair.”

Police are investigating the offence and are appealing to anyone with any information to contact them on 101, quoting crime reference GD/13/7232, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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