Conman on the buses

9:50am Thursday 4th September 2008

HAVE you ever been had?

I’ve always been a bit of a soft touch for a sob story. Somewhat gullible you might say.

Put it this way I’d be no good as a contestant on Golden Balls.

There are plenty of us about, so I am passing on a word of warning from an Atherton reader who was taken in by a bus passenger’s tale of woe - and now feels a complete fool.

She was on the 582 bus around 3pm last Wednesday when an agitated young man boarded at Chadwick Street, Leigh, begging the driver for a free ride to Atherton because he had to be at the job centre within 10 minutes or lose his benefit.

As a result of the plea a kind-hearted passenger came forward and paid his fare.

He sat next to a woman and started talking about how he would do anybody a good turn. She gave him advice on job training and several donated money as well – including my pensioner contact who has to manage on a tight budget The truth struck her after she got off at the same stop as the crafty con artist and watched him walk right past the job centre, enter a shop, buy a drink, then meet up with a friend and head off towards the Parish Church.

She was upset that they had been taken in by this bare-faced liar.

It makes you wonder how many times he has got away with this trick if he can dupe people so easily.

Next time he is encountered on the bus let him get off and walk – and don‘t feel one bit guilty.