Conman cheats clergyman
Thursday, 14 January 2010
A GROUP of local ministers has urged vigilance regarding a young man who has preyed on their conscience to con them.
It is believed he has also used the goodwill of these ministers, to get bus fares, groceries and other sums of money using a number of stories.
One minister has approached the Leader to spread the message further in case he has targeted other people who hold public positions.
He said: "This young man uses the same stories. He either says he owes money to a certain money lender, or that he is awaiting his bursary money, or that he needs money to visit his family. He has approached people who he knows have a conscience and who will therefore give to him where others maybe wouldn't. People have put him up for the night in a hotel. They have put him on a bus to Dublin."
A PSNI spokesperson said police were aware of the matter and asked the public to be wary of callers to their home.
“The matter was reported to us on Tuesday December 8, and our advice to the public is to be wary of all callers to their door and to not let anyone into their home unless or until they are completely satisfied as to the person's identity and the reason for their visit," he said.
The minister said he hoped by highlighting the matter to the attention of the public it might put an end to it.
“We don't know how many other people he has relayed the same stories to and maybe he has gone to more people than just the clergy," he said.
“Maybe by alerting people to what has happened will stop this young man from conning other people."
The minister said he was taken in by the young man's stories, and these latest incidents, were not the first.
He said: "He first came to me some years ago, in desperation, looking for money to go and visit his family, so I gave him enough for a bus fare.
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