A 'SCARED' city dad has warned others not to fall prey to 'a clever conman' who tricked him out of his mobile phone.

The father, who did not wish to be named, said he tried to sell an iPhone 14 over Facebook Marketplace - but despite parting with the phone has yet to receive a penny.

READ MORE: 'We'll bring the tip to you to get rid of rats and rubbish!'

READ MORE: Worcester sex offender still at large in London 

The alleged conman was said to have come to the victim's house in St John's, Worcester by car on Tuesday at around 10am to collect the Apple device.

When the dad handed over the phone, the man said he would transfer the £700 to his account in payment but the victim demanded the phone back until the transaction was complete.

The victim told the Worcester News: "I said to him that the payment had not gone through.

"I said 'I have nothing coming into my account' and he said 'maybe there's something wrong'.

"He already had the phone. I had my little boy with me and I couldn't do anything. When he took the phone he gave it to the person with him in the car.

"He said to me 'okay I'll have to ring the bank now and ask them why the money is not transferred to your account' and then I believe he rang someone he knows and pretended he was the bank and said it will take two hours (to transfer the money)."

The alleged conman claimed he had to leave quickly, telling the victim "I have to go somewhere".

The alleged victim said: "I just want people to be careful. I want to stop it from happening to other people. I don't care about the phone.

"People work hard, save money and do the best to make their family happy - I just don't want this to happen to someone else. It was scary."

The victim was also shown the man's driving licence and car number plate which he believes was an attempt to convince him the man was genuine although he now believes both were false.

He texted the man, telling him: "If you do not bring my phone back as you have taken it I'm going to report that in the police station."

The man replied he is going to 'cancel the transaction' and adds: "Do what you got to do."

The incident has been reported to West Mercia Police. Those with information about the incident can contact police on 101, quoting incident reference 00271_I_24012023