MOTORISTS are being warned to be on guard against a con-artist operating a petrol scam.
North Wales Police are warning motorists on the A483 and A55 of the scam which involves a fellow motorist claiming to have run out of petrol.
There have been a number of incidents on the A483 near Ruabon in recent weeks where a car is parked towards the top of A483 slip road, usually with the bonnet propped open.
The male motorist flags down cars claiming to be out of fuel and without access to cash.
He will offer to sell jewellery in return for cash or just ask for £10 or £20 and will then offer to give the motorist a ring, which looks silver or gold, as a token of appreciation.
Myles Williams, 25, of Great Barrow in Chester, was driving near Bangor-on-Dee and fell victim to the scam.
He told the Leader: “There was a Renault Laguna stopped on the roadside and the owner was waving at me to pull in, which I did.
“The man seemed to be very distressed. He then asked me if I had any cash on me in exchange for a gold ring which he had.”
Mr Williams had £20 and the ring appeared to be genuine with an 18-carat stamp.
Mr Williams decided to take pity on the driver and agreed to the swap.
But after taking the ring to a specialist be valued he was told it was made of cheap metal and hardly worth anything, possibly with a maximum value of around £10.
“The valuer also said this kind of scenario has been happening quite a few times recently, people have been coming in with similar stories,” he added.
“I feel angry. I was only trying to help someone who I thought needed assistance and it turns out the whole thing was nothing but a con-trick all along.”
A similar scam has been reported in other parts of the country including Shropshire.
Suspected fraud can be reported at www.actionfraud.police.uk.