ALERT: Kilkenny stores warned after local shop targeted in ‘change scam’
Kilkenny businesses are urged to be on the lookout for a fraudster who conned a store out of money in a “change scam”.
The incident occurred at a shop in MacDonagh Junction last Wednesday, but the deception did not come to light until the store was doing up its tills for the day.
A person approached the counter to pay for goods. During the transaction, they confused the staff member on the till by claiming they had given too much. They then started taking money back from the sales assistant and then placed other money into their hand.
In the confusion, the fraudster managed to make off with the goods and a large amount of the money required for the purchase.
A local Garda spokesperson told KilkennyNow.ie: “This is a clever deception whereby the fraudster tries to confuse the sales assistant into thinking they have received all the money, when in fact most of the money has been given back.
“Sometime then to make it harder to trace, they request notes to be broken down creating more confusion.
“Most shops would be aware of this type of incident but we are asking them to be aware of it, or if something similar has happened them recently to contact Kilkenny gardai.”
Witnesses or anyone who may know anything about the scam is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000.
