Police in Midlothian have warned locals about two men selling "dummy TVs" in Loanhead after one local was duped out of £200.
Cops said the man paid two men with Irish accents for the TV, only to later discover it was actually a fake.
After he phoned one of the men he was told he couldn't contact the police because it was stolen, Police Scotland said.
Police has asked locals who might have information about the scam to come forward, saying the men were believed to operating in the area between March 13 to March 18 this year.
A force spokesperson said: "Officers in Midlothian are appealing for information after a member of the public reported to Police that he had been sold a TV from the rear of a white van. On further investigation the TVs they paid £200 for were found to be fake.
"The two males are described as being white, in their early 20s with an Irish accent and the white van they are using was bearing Irish Number Plates.
"The males are believed to have been in the area of Straiton, Loanhead between 13th March and 18th March 2021.
"When the TVs failed to work one of the males was contacted and stated that it was a stolen TV so couldn’t contact the Police.
"This is not the case and Officers would encourage anyone to come forward and report the incident.
"Officers are looking to hear from any member of the public that has been offered a TV for sale from two Irish males in the Straiton area of Loanhead and particularly those that have given money in exchange for a TV and since found it to be a dummy TV.
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"If anyone has any information then please contact police on 101, quoting incident 2255 of 13th March 2021. Alternatively, anyone wishing to report their information anonymously can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
