SHOP AND SUPERMARKET workers are being told to be on the lookout for scam artists asking for large notes to be changed.

A number of incidents have been reported in coastal towns in Northern Ireland this week, and police are warning that the confidence tricksters could be operating in other areas too.

“In the instances reported to us, staff of business premises, including supermarkets, have been asked to change amounts of money into notes of different denominations,” PSNI Chief Inspector Mark McClarence said.

“The fraudsters then get the staff confused and use sleight of hand to seize money belonging to the business.”

Shop workers are being offered the following advice:

• Be on the alert.
• Carefully count any money that is offered to you and keep it in your possession.
• If the ‘customer’ claims to have changed his mind and asks for the original notes back, insist on getting your money – and counting it – before agreeing.

“Shopkeepers could also decide not to offer money-changing services to people they do not know – leave that to the banks,” McClarence said.

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