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Auckland businesses are being warned not to fall victim to a bald man in a boiler suit who promises to remove graffiti but runs off with their money instead.
The boiler-suit man has approached businesses in Newmarket, offering them a special price to remove graffiti that has been scratched into windows if they pay cash up front.
"He says his special chemical is carbon tetrachloride, which is actually an old dry cleaning solvent," said Newmarket Business Association general manager Cameron Brewer.
"It could never remove etching from glass, but it sounds good."
Once the man has been paid up front - following a claim that it is a one-off deal and he's only in the area for a short time - he prepares the glass surface then covers it with plastic patches.
"He tells the staff not to go near the plastic as the acid could burn them, and that he will be back in 24 hours to remove the masking tape and plastic. The problem is no one ever sees him again, and when staff peel off the plastic the etching is still there."
Mr Brewer said at least five Newmarket businesses had been fleeced by the man in the past couple of days, one of which lost $300.
"We now want to warn others, because by all accounts this guy is very convincing.
"He has been described as Pakeha, about 40-years-old and someone who looks and acts a bit like a science boffin. He's also supposedly got enormous ears, so he's quite distinctive."
Mr Brewer said the Newmarket Business Association had contacted the police and urged any other businesses who have been conned to report their experience as well.
"We believe many others have been conned by this man. We know this because he leaves behind a cellphone number that actually belongs to a woman who is sick of the irate calls."
Newmarket Senior Sergeant Wendy Spiller said police would need more information or complaints before investigating further.
If anyone had security camera footage of the man they were asked to contact the police.
Police advise people to ask for at least three references - and one they can visit in person - before taking on any tradesperson. This helps eliminate the chance of someone giving a false reference over the phone.
