A driver has told how he fell victim to a motorway fuel con – almost two years before a spate of similar reports on the M62.
The man, who asked not to be named, was conned by an Eastern European on the M62 entry slip road at Brighouse.
The conman claimed he was running low on fuel and desperately needed to get to Dover.
The victim took him to a petrol station and paid for his fill up. He was given an 18-carat gold ring in return but the ‘gold’ turned out to be worthless.
In December the Examiner reported how apparently stricken motorists had been flagging down drivers claiming to have run out of petrol.
A man who claimed to be German offered drivers at Ainley Top what was described as “cheap jewellery” in exchange for petrol money.
An Eastern European man was also reported on the westbound entry slip road at junction 28 at Tingley.
He was flagging down cars claiming his bank card wouldn’t work and he needed £20 for petrol.
At the time West Yorkshire Police warned people not to be taken in – and only stop on the hard shoulder in a genuine emergency.
The Examiner has been contacted by a man who was conned in a similar way on February 16 2013 at Brighouse.
The victim spoke to the man who claimed to be an Eastern European businessman from Stuttgart.
He genuinely seemed to be panicked and was desperate to get to Dover. The victim didn’t have any cash so took the driver to a petrol station at Lindley and paid for the fuel on his credit card.
He was given the fake ring and a business card and only realised later he had been conned.
The victim added: “The car had another three grown men inside pretending to be asleep which at the time I thought was strange but he seemed genuinely panicked. Never again.”
A police spokesman said no arrests had been made over the December incidents.
