Man carries out rent card scam in Wales

Police are searching for a man who's carrying out a rent card scam, getting away with thousands of pounds in cash [3 January 2012]

It's believed he could be operating across the UK - and could be working with other people.

In the Gwent Police Force area alone there were five occasions in November when he conned various shops and got away with £2200 over just 5 days.

The man typically goes into a shop and asks for his rent card to be topped up with an amount of cash, in the Gwent cases this has often been for £440.

The card is actually a fraud, has been cloned and is linked to a pre-pay mastercard. Once the operator has topped up, what they believe to be, the rent card at a Pay Point Terminal the man goes to pay for the top up on his bank card but it's declined. He then says he'll go to a cash- point to get the cash but never returns.

The offender is then able to withdraw the cash that has been paid onto the mastercard. (this is the money that the operator thought they were putting onto a rent card).

This scam could be costing businesses thousands of pounds.

Anyone who recognises the man, who is described as speaking with an Eastern European accent, or has any information that could help officers is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using our online Giving Information Form.

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