Small businesses warned to 'be vigilant' after they fall victim to stream of similar scams

And it is believed that women working alone have been targeted, in a bid to con them out of their hard-earned cash.

Hospitality businesses who are trying to make ends meet during the national lockdown are encouraging other business owners to be wary of scammers.

Louise Sey, owner of Ravenous Coffee Shop, Cannon Street said a middle-aged man told her he had recently visited on January 5 before she was then conned out of £12.

She said: "He first came in on the first week I had reopened after Christmas claiming he was a pest controller. He told me that we needed the back of the shop spraying and was very forceful in telling me I needed the work done.

"When I told him I already had a contract with a pest controller and had done for 15 years, he stormed out of the shop.

"Last Friday, January 22, he came in and told me he had been in on earlier in the month, bought two takeaway breakfasts and then told me he found a long hair in the breakfast and that it made one of his friends physically sick.

"He was very convincing and quite aggressive and kept going on and on telling me he wasn't going anywhere until he gets the money back. Just to get rid of him I gave him the cash because I had customers waiting outside, but he was adamant despite not having any photo evidence or a receipt."

Since posting an appeal to social media, owner Louise has said she has received numerous messages from other cafe owners in Lancashire telling her they had fallen victim to the same scam in recent months, along with florists and dog groomers.

She added: "I think he comes and poses as a pest controller to see how you work and who is in the shop on different shifts. Then, when he returns, you recognise him from his first visit which is when he tells you he was a customer."

And nearby Joan Marsden, from The Secret Garden florist, Winckley Street, was also visited by a gentleman also claiming to be from pest control last Friday.

She said: "Nothing much happened because luckily, I didn't part with any money. He opened the door and told me that he was doing pest control work for all the shops on the street, and attempted to charge me for it.

"He was trying to convince me that there was a problem with vermin in the area, which there isn't. I think he realised he couldn't get any money off me, but I would be ready if he came back.

"Businesses are struggling enough as it is and nobody wants a bad review. The customer is typically always right and sometimes you have to swallow your pride, but he hasn't shown his face since.

"It is just horrendous how people can try and con others and businesses, it's dreadful."

And Heather Allen, manager of Cherry Pie, Earl Street, said she too was persuaded to hand over £12 from her till to a man who asked for a refund.

In a public post shared to Facebook on January 23, owner of the Cow Shed cafe in Penwortham Emma Rooke was warning businesses to be vigilant after they had also nearly fallen victim to the same scam.

She said: "A gentleman came into my shop today asking to speak to the manager. When I got to him, he informed me that he had bought four sandwiches the day before and that he wasn’t happy with them.

"I said that I was very sorry but we are actually closed on Thursdays at the moment. He then proceeded to say that it was in fact Wednesday that he bought these sandwiches but we’re also currently closed on Wednesdays. He hesitated before ‘phoning a friend’ to double-check, leaving and then not returning.

"This guy is floating around the local area trying his best to indirectly steal cash from small businesses. He wanted a full refund, in cash, for the sandwiches which he never bought from us.

"It’s human nature to believe what we’re told, especially when someone makes a complaint. We feel guilty and embarrassed and want to try our best to keep customers satisfied and he tried to use that against us. Just keep an eye out and be vigilant."

On social media, people were quick to comment that their businesses across Lancashire had been scammed in the same way by a man fitting the same description.

Lancashire Police told the Post that they had received reports of an alleged man "demanding a refund" from cafe Ravenous and have since referred the relevant incidents to Action Fraud who will investigate further.

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