Police are hunting a serial conman who poses as a doctor running late for an operation to dupe victims out of cash.

The fraudster, who is believed to have tricked people across London over the past four years, struck in Sutton on September 23.

He told an employee at a restaurant in Cheam Road he needed £36.60 for train fare and left note with his a contact number, name and address that proved to be false.

He also gave the name and address of a hospital where he claimed he was about to go into surgery, but the hospital did not exist.

Police said he was of Arabic appearance and aged about 50. He was smartly dressed in a white shirt, brown jacket and black trousers and was said to have “dark eyes”.

Det Sgt Andy Wickens, of Sutton police, said his enquiries led him to believe that the same suspect had targeted small businesses in Kingston, Bromley, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster.

He said: “Each time this scam doctor gives a different name and only asks for small amounts of money hoping the losers don’t bother to report it and that he will get away with it.”

Anyone with information or who is asked for money in this way is asked to contact police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.