Drivers are being targeted in a scam that sees con artists trick passers-by into handing over money to help "stranded" motorists buy petrol.

This type of fraud, previously dubbed the ‘petrol money’ scam, is on the rise, with a total of 26 incidents reported to police over five days on the M25, M40 and M4.

In each example, motorists were flagged down by people, sometimes well-dressed men, who subsequently asked for money.

Inspector Colin Clark, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing for Thames Valley Police, said: “In some of these cases the men stopping motorists were well-dressed and wearing suits. Some stated that a relative had died or that they had run out of petrol and needed money.

“In many cases gold-coloured rings were offered by the offenders as a surety but these transpired to not actually be gold and to be practically worthless.

“The offenders were often parked in areas which put themselves and other road users at risk."

The following incidents were reported to the police:

  • January 31 - seven reports. Two on the M25/M4 junction, one at M4 Junction 7, three on the M40 at Junction 5 and Junction 6 and Junction 10 and one on the A329M at Woodley.
  • February 1 - five reports. Two took place on the M25/M4 junction, one at the M40/M25 junction, one on the M25 Junction 16 to 15, and a further one on the M4 at Junction 7.
  • February 2 - two reports. One on the M4/M25 junction and another on the M4 Junction 5.
  • February 3 - five reports. Two on the M4, one between Junction 6 to Junction 7 and another between Junction 7 to Junction 8/9, two on the M40, one at the junction of the M40 and M25 and at Junction 5, and another on the M25 Junction 15 to Junction 16.
  • February 4 - seven reports. Five on the M4 at Junction 4B to Junction 5, at Junction 5, at Junction 12 and Junction 13 and two on the junction where the M40 meets the M25.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police on 101. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.