Not a local scam this time, but ingenious. Walking along City Road this week I was stopped by a young man brandishing a gaping wound on his arm and saying that he had just been knocked off his bike and could he have three quid to get a taxi to hospital.

It didn't add up - no bike in evidence, no blood or dirt or damage to his clothes, he didn't seem at all shaken and was walking steadily enough to have got on a bus if he was short of taxi money. But I was so perplexed and concerned that he might possibly be genuine that I scrabbled around for some money, whilst he helpfully offered me change if I only had notes. Eventually I realised I'd come out with no money and he gave up and wandered off to wait for the next person.

Googling later revealed that he is quite famous in the area and one pedestrian said had been stopped by him ten times. Maybe this is a well-known ploy, but it was new to me. Theatrical makeup perhaps.