Urgent holiday scam warning over ‘bird poo' trick that led Brit tourist to have purse swiped from right under her nose
BRITISH tourists are sounding the alarm over a classic con that is making a comeback in Spain.
Susan Parker became the latest victim of the so-called 'bird poo scam' during a holiday on the Costa del Sol this week.
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She was walking in the resort of Estepona with her husband when they suddenly felt something splash onto their clothes.
"We thought a bird had pood on us," she recalled.
But this was the moment the alleged scammer had made their move.
"A small south Asian man, possibly Chinese, with a white hat and rucksack came to our aid wiping us down with tissues and a bottle of water," Susan said.
Before she knew it, the scammer had swiped her purse and tried to use her cards.
By the time she realised what had happened, he had already attempted several transactions.
"We only realised he'd stolen my purse out of my bag when BOI rang about a suspicious transaction.
"He obviously sprayed us… and then rushed to our aid to rob us…
"We have frozen our cards but he'd used them a number of times with contactless in Carrefour, €200 in total, and took our driving licences."
Susan is not the only tourist to have been on the receiving end of this reported 'bird poo scam.'
Fellow victims shared a photo of the alleged fraudster on an Estepona Facebook forum.
They claimed to have also fallen prey to the con.
Susan wrote beneath the picture: "That's him!"
One Brit claimed: "He's been doing that for ages around the coast, report it to the police they'll know who it is."
Another said: "Exactly the same thing happened to an elderly gentleman in Estepona town centre last week."
One warned: "Tis the season.
"I just hate this but once Easter comes around the thieves are here for the rest of the summer.
"Don't leave anything in your car either."
Estepona police was contacted for comment.
Last year, a 56-year-old man was arrested for carrying out the same scam in the nearby resort of Benalmadena.
The master thief, who had a variety of disguises, would carry biscuits in his bum bag.
He would chew up into a mush before throwing the mixture at his victims.
The man would then play the part of a helpful passerby while picking their pockets.
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