Derek Alexander, of Battle Road, St Leonards, said he was approached by a well-spoken woman asking for help.

He said: "She told me that she had parked her car on the seafront and when she went to open it she found some substance has been inserted into the door lock preventing her from unlocking the door.

"She said that she had let down the car tyres to discourage anyone from driving it away.

"Her home, she said, was at Goudhurst and she was in need of some money to pay for a taxi from Etchingham to Goudhurst and could not contact her husband because he was away from home."

Mr Alexander waited for his son to return from Lewes and then drew out £20 for the woman.

He said: "I had a rail timetable with me and was able to identify the time of the next train stopping at Etchingham.

"Although I did not ask the lady's name I did ask her where she worked. She told me that she was the PA to a solicitor and named an old established law firm in St Leonards well known to me.

"Using a mobile telephone she made what had all the appearances of a genuine call to a taxi firm asking the fare from Etchingham to Goudhurst.

"She said she had been quoted a fare of some £13. The cash dispenser would not give me less than £20 and this is what I gave her.

"She said she would post the money to me by registered post and I said that a cheque would do."

The incident happened on March 18 in the early evening.

Mr Alexander grew more suspicious as his £20 failed to arrive so decided to ring the solicitors' firm the woman claimed she worked for after hearing nothing from her.

He said: "A conveyancing solicitor said he had not heard of the person matching her address or description but said he would check with the firm's branch office in Kent.

"I later heard there was no trace of the person I was describing at that office either."

The lawyer said he heard others had apparently been duped by the same woman.

He said: "Both my son and I were completely taken in as I heard on June 21 what appears to have been the same person approaching others at Warrior Square."

A rail commuter from Eastbourne was also approached by the same woman last month.

He said: "I was waiting on the platform for the 17.58 train back to Eastbourne when this tall woman in her early 40s with blonde hair approached me and was quite well-spoken.

"She asked me if I was English and I said yes.

"She then claimed someone had put superglue in the door lock of her car and she urgently needed money for a train ticket to Gatwick Airport because she had a flight to catch.

"I immediately smelt a rat and I told her I was skint. She stormed off in a huff. I almost missed my train because I was distracted by her."