A MOTORIST is warning others about what she fears is a scam focusing on unwitting car park users in Colchester.

Mum-of-two Sharon Cox said she was targeted by two different women in two Colchester car parks with very similar sob stories who both asked her for £2 to £3 to pay for petrol.

After the second incident Mrs Cox, mum to eight-year-old Emily and five-year-old Noah, said she became suspicious.

She said on posting a message on the social networking site Facebook warning her friends and family, two responded to say it had also happened to them.

“About a month ago I had just got into my car in Asda car park when a lady tapped on my window.

“She said she was ever so sorry and so embarrassed, but she was shopping with her disabled sister and had run out of petrol. She said she didn’t like to ask, but could I spare £2 or £3 so she could get some petrol.

“I gave her £3. I was a bit sceptical, but gave her the benefit of the doubt as I wouldn’t have liked to be in that situation myself,” said Sharon, who lives in Colchester.

But she said on Tuesday, she had just got into her car outside JJB Sports in Sheepen Road, when a different lady with a similar story again tapped on the car window.

“Only this time it was her elderly father in the car and her mother had been rushed to hospital earlier that day. I told her I thought it was a scam and refused to give her any money.

“She then moved on to a man who had just got out of his car.” Mrs Cox has now contacted police.

She said two of her friends reported similar experiences in the Leisure World and Tesco car parks.

“It will be difficult for the police to catch these women. Unless they are around when they are doing it, they won’t be able to prove it.

“I wanted people to be aware of what’s going on. You are caught on the hop and feel sorry for them.

“If it is genuine, then they won’t mind you asking questions and if it is not, they will probably go away,” she added.