Chingford: Laptop loser Aloysius Leog is warning people to watch out for tricksters selling computers after coughing up £200 for a piece of cardboard and two bottles of soda.

Bogus 'computer salesmen' sold Mr Leog the goods after arranging a meeting at Sainsbury's car park at the Billet in Chingford.

After handing over his money he looked in the tatty bag to find probably the most expensive soft drink on the planet.

Mr Leog, 45, of Billet Road, Walthamstow, was approa- ched by two men with Irish accents in the car park near the Billet roundabout on Monday at 4pm. He and his family were on their way to do their weekly shopping when the pair offered him a second-hand Sony laptop for £300. Mr Leog and his wife were shown how the laptop worked, thought it was in good condition and agreed to pay £200.

After getting their money the Irishmen drove off in their white F-reg Ford car, leaving the Leogs with ther purchase.

Mr Leog said they saw one of the men place the laptop into a bag but believe he must have switched bags.

"I thought it would be a good present for my son, and I am so upset that I have been conned," he said.

He felt so ashamed that he did not inform the police until the next day. His son Senou, 14, said he could not believe people could do such a thing.

Aloysius told the Guardian: "I think people should be made aware of such scams and be careful. I will never buy anything from anybody in the street again."

The incident is now being investigated by police.

A spokesman said: "We get up to two reports a week of such scams.

"However, not everyone reports them as they feel embarrassed that they have being conned out of money."

A man was sold a mobile phone for £50 outside Tesco in Leyton last week and found a bottle of water in a box.

With Christmas approaching, the public should be vigilant. People are advised to visit legitimate shops to buy their goods.

November 15, 2001 15:00