Companies which rent out rooms for meetings have been warned to be wary of a laptop scam which has struck two businesses within days.

Facts and Figures Financial Planners in Ashford had a computer stolen on Friday after receiving a call from someone claiming to be from a company in need of a last minute room for a training session.

The caller allegedly said they had been let down by a venue at the last minute and wanted to rent a room for the afternoon and would pay cash on arrival.

They also asked if they could borrow a laptop and send a technician round to set up for the meeting.

Then a man arrived at the firm and is alleged to have snuck out with the laptop. No one showed up for the meeting and no payment was received.

“It was such an elaborate and unnecessary ploy. There was so much work to set it up..." - Simon Webster, Facts and Figures Financial Planners

Simon Webster, managing director of Facts and Figures, said: “We were trying to help out a local business.

“They seemed legit. They said they would show up and pay cash.

“I feel sorry for the girl in my team who took the booking. I spent the afternoon giving her a hug. She feels daft letting it happen but if it was me taking the booking, I would not have done anything differently.

“We will be looking for a security deposit before lending someone a laptop again.

“It was such an elaborate and unnecessary ploy. There was so much work to set it up. For the value they will get for a second-hand laptop they would have been better off earning it.”

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said another of her members, based in Folkestone, had also fallen victim to the scam on Monday.

She said: “It is not out of the ordinary for someone to phone and book a room last minute and pay when they are here.

“It’s a very easy trap to fall into and I’m worried it could escalate. How do we protect ourselves as venue providers?

“Things are tight at the moment so we are all after as much business as we can get.

“The last thing we want to do is turn business away because there is a lack of trust.

“We can’t afford to lose room bookings and we can’t afford to lose laptops.

“I would say to firms, if you are going to provide a laptop, make sure there is no company data on there because then you are putting yourself at risk.

“Companies need to review their processes. This could happen to anyone.”

Mr Webster said he has CCTV images of the alleged thief, who he said walked out with the laptop in his bag after saying he was going for a coffee break.

Kent Police said it is investigating the report of a theft and inquiries are ongoing.