POLICE are warning businesses to be on their guard for fraudsters carrying out a scam known as ‘ringing the changes’.

They commit the offence by going into a shop or business and asking for amounts of cash to be changed.

While the staff member begins to count and change the money the offenders will then try to distract or confuse them so the fraudsters end up with more money than they asked to change.

The advice comes as police are appealing for information after two tea rooms fell foul of fraudsters ‘ringing the changes’.

The first incident happened at the Vintage at the Tower, Hill Street in Corbridge at approximately 12.30pm on Wednesday, May 10.

A short time later, at approximately 2pm, a couple came into the Tea at Blandings teashop, Cattle Market in Hexham and made a similar request to staff.

The offenders are described as both chubby build: the man, tall, bald, wearing a dark coloured top and the woman, had dark brown hair.

To help police call 101.