Manningham police searching for man conducting leather jacket scam in shopping centre carparks
A man is allegedly scamming victims for big sums of cash in shopping centre carparks in exchange for leather jackets, prompting a police crackdown. This is where he’s been operating.
East
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An alleged conman with an Italian accent has reportedly fleeced more than $10,000 from victims in shopping centre carparks after giving them free fake leather jackets.
Manningham police have issued a scam warning and want to track down the alleged conman after 12 incidents in the past two months.
Detective Sergeant Leanne Trusler said the latest incident occurred on Monday, June 1, with the man roaming shopping centres including Westfield Doncaster, Donvale’s Tunstall Square and Doncaster East’s Jackson Court shops.
Sgt Trusler said the man had been spotted in business-style clothing and appears to be aged in his thirties.
She said he approached shoppers and asked for directions to Melbourne Airport to fly home to Italy.
He then gave fake designer leather jackets as thankyou gifts and told stories of needing financial assistance.
Victims had transferred up to $1500 into his bank account and then discovered the poor quality of the jackets after the man had disappeared.
“Anyone should know with COVID-19, how can they go back to Italy?” Sgt Trusler said.
“It is a scheme that has been going on for years and has just kicked back in.”
Sgt Tussler said investigators believed the man could also be operating in other parts of Melbourne, with similar incidents reported in the Boroondara area.
She urged anyone who sees the activity or is approached by the man to phone police and note the number plate on his car.
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Sgt Tussler also warned people of another scam involving foreign nationals posing as tradesmen offering to do driveway repairs.
She said police were aware of two incidents reported on Facebook recently, with victims fleeced of thousands of dollars for the works in Park Orchards and Warrandyte.
Anyone with information or sightings for both scams should phone Manningham detectives on 8841 3999.