Disguised swindle

Disguised swindle

From Warta Kota

Last October, three con jobs were carried out under the guise of buying cigarettes. Two happened in Depok Timur Dalam, and one on Jl. Kranggan, Bekasi.

As part of the con, two fierce-looking middle-aged men, both wearing motorcycle safety helmets, drop by a stall selling cigarettes attended to by a woman. They pretended to buy cigarettes in a hurry.

On Oct. 30 about 7 p.m., a woman selling foodstuffs and cigarettes somewhere in Bekasi fell victim to this con.

A man came and said he wanted to buy cigarettes. He selected a Rp 3,000-packet and tendered a Rp 100,000 banknote in payment. The vendor found it difficult to give the change so the man asked for two packets, saying that this would make it easier for the woman to give him the change.

The woman got the change -- a Rp 50,000 banknote and some other banknotes in smaller denominations. What happened? The man suddenly returned the cigarettes and when there was a heated quarrel he ran away with the Rp 50,000 banknote and his own Rp 100,000 banknote. The woman was dazed by this quick action and finally found that she was left with only Rp 44,000 in her hands. In a matter of seconds, she had lost Rp 50,000.

Usually the conman performs his confidence trick after the evening prayer. It is advisable, therefore, not to attend to your shop alone, especially if you are a woman.

AMBERANIE HAMIDY

Bekasi, West Java