A GLASGOW shopkeeper is warning others to beware of a gang of criminals running a scam to get free mobile phone top-ups.

Shahrda Iqbal, owner of the Day Today newsagents in Stepps, said a man and two women entered the shop and memorised a top-up card number while distracting her - getting away with £50 worth of calls.

Now Shahrda and Javaid Iqbal have warned they could strike again.

Shahrda recounted how the trio entered her shop in Cumbernauld Road at 7.55pm on October 10.

The man asked for change. Shahrda had already closed the till when he asked to buy a £50 Orange top-up card.

She placed the card on the counter. One woman then said they in fact wanted a £15 card and asked for cigarettes the shop didn't have.

As her back was turned to check for the cigarettes, Shahrda believes the trio memorised the card number, before leaving the shop to supposedly get money from their car to pay for the card which they left behind. But they never came back.

Shahrda, 47, said: "I was angry when I realised what had happened. I don't want other people conned in the same way. I want them exposed.

"I waited a few minutes after they went to their car but I had a bad feeling. They didn't return. I tried the card on my own phone and it didn't work, so I called Orange and they said the top-up card was already in use.

"Even if each person only memorised four numbers, they would get the 12-digit code.

"I hope this will warn others of this scam and maybe catch those responsible."

The three individuals were described as in their early 30s and spoke with a foreign accent.

A spokeswoman for the police confirmed the incident had been reported.