Dorchester post office targeted in cash scam (From Dorset Echo)

Dorchester post office targeted in cash scam

12:00pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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A SUB-POSTMASTER has issued a warning to other Dorset post offices after scammers cheated him of £400.

Issa Musleh, from Crossways Post Office, was short-changed by a man who had asked to change bank notes in what he believes was a pre-planned con.

He said he was left feeling ‘intimidated’ and like he had been ‘smacked in the face’. Two Asian men entered the Mount Skippet Way post office on Tuesday afternoon and Mr Musleh said one stood by the door while another came up to him and asked him to change £880 of £10 notes into £20 notes.

Mr Musleh said: “I counted out £880 in £20s, he could see me counting them and picked them up and shuffled them.

“Then all of a sudden he stopped speaking English and started speaking in a foreign language and became upset. I couldn’t make head nor tail of what he was saying, then he said he had meant he wanted it in 20 pence pieces.

“I told him there was no way any post office would have £880 in 20 pence pieces and he asked if I could give his money back then.”

Mr Musleh said he was distracted by the upset customer, and his accomplice who was acting ‘suspiciously’ by the door way, as he handed back the original bundle of £880 in £10 notes in exchange for the bundle of £20 notes.

He said it was only later, having seen the men on CCTV running away after leaving the shop, that he realised the bundle of £20 notes the man had returned was £400 short.

Mr Musleh said he believed it was a practised scam and had already alerted some other local post offices.

He said: “It probably was not the first time they did it and will not be the last.

“It is an intimidating and horrible experience for anyone and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s not just the financial aspect, it’s the mental aspect of you wanting to help someone and they smack you in the face really.”

The two men were both of Asian appearance, with the thief described as being 5ft 7ins or 8ins, of a slightly chubby build and having a round face with slicked back receding black hair.

He was wearing a black bomber jacket and dark blue jeans. The second man was of stocky build with short black hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and light blue jeans.

PC Jeremy Cuff, of Dorchester Police, said: “I understand that the two men first went to the post office at around 2pm – when the premises was closed – before returning at 4.35pm and committing the offence.

“The two may have remained in Crossways over that two-and-a-half hour-period, and I believe that they will have used a motor vehicle of some description to travel to Crossways as the postmaster didn’t recognise them as being from the local area.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222.