A SHOP worker lost more than £400 after being tricked by a conman in a bank note exchange scam.

Now police are warning others to be on their guard following a total of four incidents in Poole.

At around 10.40am on Saturday September 5 a man entered McColl’s on The Parade, Waterloo estate with £900 in £10 notes and claimed he was from a local Sainsbury’s store. He asked if the cash could be changed into £20 notes.

The shop worker exchanged the money and placed it down on the counter for him to retrieve. The offender then stated he had asked for the money in £5 notes instead.

During the transaction, the shop lost a total of £420 as the man retained a number of notes without the shop worker realising.

The man is described as white and spoke with a possible Eastern European accent. He was wearing a grey cap, black jumper, a Sainsbury’s maroon-coloured body warmer, beige trousers and beige boots.

Three similar incidents were reported to have occurred at the Co-op on Ringwood Road and the Post Office on Culliford Crescent between Monday August 31 and Sunday September 6.

Police Community Support Investigator Adam Cleaver, of Poole police, said: “I would like to remind local shops not to exchange large quantities of money as you may be at risk of being scammed.

“We have been carrying out an investigation into all four incidents and enquiries are ongoing to identify the people involved.

“If you have been a victim of a similar incident, please let us know. Alternatively, if you have any information to assist our enquiries please get in touch.”

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55200133431, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.