The victim of a con has spoken out in a bid to stop other people from falling for the same trick that cost her £2,000.

The 74-year-old woman was in Sutton town centre last week when she was approached by a distressed-looking young eastern European woman at around 12.30pm last Thursday.

The younger woman stopped the victim outside Asda in Sutton High Street and said she had won a big prize in last Wednesday's National Lottery but as she did not have a passport she was unable to cash it.

The pair were joined by an eastern European man in a suit who claimed not to know the distressed woman and wanted to help.

The younger woman told the victim and the man she needed £5,000 to get back to her home country and pay for her father to have a heart operation.

She said she would give the woman her lottery ticket and she could claim the prize and keep part of it if she could help her.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said: "I thought she was in desperate need so I agreed to help. The man said he would help too and went to withdraw money.

"He came back with money and made her count it but now I don't think that was real money. He said it was not enough and I would need to give £2,000."

The woman went to the bank and withdrew the money. The distressed-looking woman said they would need to get the bus to Morden for the 74-year-old to pick up her winnings.

All three of them took the bus to the centre of Morden. When they arrived the victim gave the woman the money in exchange for an envelope supposedly containing the winning lottery ticket. 

The two eastern Europeans pointed the woman in the direction of the lottery office and left. The office turned out not to exist and the envelope was empty.

The victim said: "I know it's my own fault and I feel ashamed of myself. I didn't sleep at all the following night.

"It's just so upsetting. I'm 74 and to be conned by someone you think you trust is terrible.
"I just want other people to be aware of this so that it doesn't happen to them."

Police have been made aware of the incident and are investigating. The woman is young and had dark hair tied back in a pony tail. The man had short grey hair and wore a suit.

If you have information you can call police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


TODAY'S TOP STORIES

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK