A person from Dorset has been tricked out of more than £100,000 in the latest scam to sweep the country.

The blatant con has left the victim too embarrassed to talk about it but police fear more people could be talked into parting with their cash.

The fraud, known as the "black money scam", is so named because unsuspecting victims are tricked into buying black pieces of paper, the same size as bank notes.

They are told the paper is real bank notes, which have been dyed in order for the money to be smuggled out of Africa through customs.

To add insult to injury, victims have also been conned into spending large amounts of money on useless fluid which fraudsters claim will remove the black dye.

Police said the scam appears far-fetched and they only know of one Dorset victim in the last two years. But that person lost in excess of £100,000 and they fear it could happen again.

There have been recent cases reported in other parts of the country and Detective Inspector Sue Wynn fears there may already have been more cases in Dorset.

"Victims usually don't report these cases to the police as they are either ashamed or worried about what they may have done wrong themselves" said DI Wynn.

"I'm hoping to warn unsuspecting people of the dangers of what at first appears an easy money-making scheme. If it appears to be too good to be true then it usually is - don't take the gamble unless you want to lose your money."

She said victims are often approached by e-mail or, in some cases, in person.

"I would urge anyone with information about such offences or with information about those responsible for carrying out any similar fraud to call Dorset Police or Crimestoppers urgently" she added.

Police can be contacted on 01202 222222 and the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

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