If you are motorhoming in France and are approached by someone claiming to have had their wallet stolen, treat with caution. Geoff Standen from Canterbury in Kent was taken in by an Irish con artist claiming to be Martin McDonagh. Here’s the story in Geoff’s own words:

“I'm in my mid-sixties, own a motorhome and enjoy travelling around Europe in it by myself. I left Calais last Sunday morning with the idea of travelling south to Northern Spain and after a few hours into my trip stopped at a services called Agip Aire du Ressons, north of Paris on the A1.

As I was filling up with diesel I was approached by a well dressed young man who tells me he was on his way back to Ireland and has had his wallet stolen and needs money to get back. This pleasant and very plausible Irishman allegedly called Martin McDonagh claims to be a dog breeder and gave me an obviously expensive laminated business card about ‘The Puppy Palace’ in Navan. He then showed me his passport but just when you need the internet most there's never a signal so I couldn't check any of this out.

I then called from my mobile to an Irish number beginning 00353 that he gave me which he said was his wife, Winifred. I spoke with her and she said how she was beside herself with the worry of how Martin had been robbed, how was he ever going to get home and that she couldn't help because everywhere was closed on a Sunday. I heard a young child crying in the background.

Martin kept telling me how he believed in God and showing me the crucifix around his neck even after I'd declared my atheism. Anyway, €400 would help him to get home but he would transfer €600 by western union as soon as got back and we would meet again one day to enjoy a whiskey. I said I wasn't interested in profit, only of getting my money back.

Anyway, to cut a long story short I decided to part with €400 in cash. Martin said he would phone me again when he reached Dover and again when got to Holyhead. I never heard from him again although on Monday I did call his ‘wife’ again and surprisingly she answered, saying she was hoping he'd be home later that day. By the evening neither of their numbers could be reached or were receiving calls.

I went to the British Consulate in Bordeaux for advice and then went on and reported the matter to the police in Bordeaux. However, they have said that because he was Irish and I am British it would better for me to report it when I get back to the UK in two weeks time. My guess is when I report it in the UK they will say it was a crime committed in France and will need to dealt with by the French and so it will go and it will be all too easy for ‘Martin’ to carry on his scamming.

In the meantime, I reckon that if ‘Martin’ is only working an hour a day for five days a week but is successfully carrying out just one of these scams a day then he's earning well over €100k a year. I'm resolved to the fact I will never get that cash back but if I can help just one person not to fall for his charms then I'd like to do it.”

So if someone comes to you with a hard luck story and appears to have credentials to back it up, treat with caution.

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