Unsuspecting Dunedin pensioners have been tricked out of their cash by a young female hustler with a toddler.
At least seven pensioners have been targeted by the woman, who claims to be in desperate need of cash after running out of petrol.
After being loaned between $10 and $20, she is unable to be contacted again.
The slim, well-dressed woman, believed to be in her early 20s and holding a girl aged about 18 months, peered in the window and then knocked on the door of a Mornington home last week.
Kay Thompson was at the property having lunch with friends, when the home owner answered the door to hear of the woman's supposed plight.
The woman, who called herself ''Jessie'', asked for petrol for her car, but was turned down by Ms Thompson's friend. The woman then used a telephone to try to contact a friend in Mosgiel but was unsuccessful.
Ms Thompson said a man at the house drove the woman to a service station, while the young child was left behind at the house.
''She was prepared to leave the baby with us, and go off without her. [She] wasn't in the least embarrassed by being left without money, not apologetic in any way.''
The young woman returned, saying she had no money to buy petrol, but then said she might have enough petrol to drive her car to the petrol station. She again asked to borrow $10 for petrol.
She was given the money, which she promised to repay, and also gave them a contact phone number.
Ms Thompson said the woman had made no attempt to repay the money, and a phone message says that number is no longer available.
Since that incident she had heard of six other Dunedin pensioners who had been targeted by a well-spoken young mother - thought to be in her late teens or early 20s - giving her between $10 and $20.
And Ms Thompson's advice?
''I would say please be jolly careful.''
Senior Sergeant Bruce Ross warned people not to be ''so gullible and hand over their hard-earned pension''.
Anyone who may have been duped in the scam should contact their nearest police station, he said.
