Members of the public are being warned that fraudsters claiming they have run out of petrol and need money have been spotted at various locations in Cambridgeshire, including the M11 at Duxford.
Police have received 12 reports of incidents between January 26 and February 3 where a man who claimed to have run out of fuel flagged down vehicles and asked for money for petrol.
He then gave a business card and gold jewellery to those who handed over money as guarantee he would pay them back.
On a couple of occasions the man has accompanied the victim in their car to a nearby petrol station, with another man, sometimes two, following behind in the fraudster’s car.
Numerous vehicles have been reported as being used in the scam, including a silver Vauxhall Vectra, a red Saab convertible, both silver and green Volkswagen Passats and a white BMW.
The incidents are reported to have happened primarily on major routes within Cambridgeshire, including the M11 at Duxford, A11 at Great Abington, the A14 at Brampton and Godmanchester, the A1 at Wittering and Trumpington and the A428 at Hardwick.
The man is described as in his late 40s to early 60s, of Middle Eastern appearance, with dark hair, between 5 ft 4 and 5 ft 8 and of heavy build. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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