SCAMMERS stripped a pensioner's bank account and credit card of almost £1,000 after dipping into her purse.
Within 15 minutes, £100 had been spent at a bookmakers then another £150, followed by £740 on her credit card within two hours.
Police told her it's the second incident of its kind in Nailsworth and the 75-year-old victim wants others to be aware of how easy it is to fall prey to tricksters.
Initially, the woman asked her for change.
"I had just put the shopping in the car and was about to get in when she stopped me and asked to change £2," said the woman, who did not wish to be named.
"She was Eastern European or mid-European and I had never seen her before.
"I opened my purse and got out some £1 coins but she didn't want them. She kept pointing her finger in the coin section of my purse, saying 'no, no, £10'.
"I told her I didn't have any but she kept insisting.
"I still don't know how she did it but she took credit and debit cards."
She praised fraud investigators at her bank for quickly calling her after they'd seen two payments for £100 and £150 made at a bookmakers in Stonehouse. A third attempt to take money on the debit card failed because it would have taken the account over the withdrawal limit. It was later discovered that £740 was spent on her credit card.
"NatWest have been absolutely brilliant and refunded me," said the woman, from Nailsworth. "I would just say, sadly, 'Don't be helpful'."
The incident happened between 2.45pm and 3pm in the Nailsworth Mills car park, next to Morrisons supermarket on March 8.
She said police told her a similar con had been committed in the same place the previous week.
Inspector Andy Poole said it is working with the public to make everyone aware of distraction thefts.
"If you are confronted with this type of instance in the future, always be on your guard and make sure that you don't allow your own personal security to be compromised," he said.
"If anyone has any information on this incident, please call 101."