AN online con artist is believed to have scammed theatre fans out of tens of thousands of pounds, police fraud-busters have warned.

Action Fraud, run by the City of London Police, said fake charity Shooting Star Theatre is being investigated for selling non-existent tickets to West End shows through a Facebook page.

The page had 1,700 likes until it shut down earlier this month. So far just 43 victims have come forward - many of them based in Essex.

Shooting Star described itself as a charity school and offered discounted tickets to shows such as Matilda, The Lion King and Aladdin.

Customers believed the group had a benefactor who was supplying tickets and the sales were going towards the costs of building a new school.

Joanne Mandry said she had agreed to buy four tickets for Matilda, three tickets for Mama Mia and five tickets for Thriller for just £240 via bank transfer.

The 35-year-old said: “I originally contacted them to get tickets but it just seemed like something wasn’t right.

“But when I saw on Facebook people were going to the shows I went back to them.

“Now I think maybe about 20 people got tickets to lure everybody else in.”

Mrs Mandry, of Buckley Close, Stanford-le-Hope, said two female Facebook accounts were behind the scam, but she now questions whether the people were real.

The Echo has seen copies of the friendly exchanges, which a woman often begins with "Hi hun," and signs off with three kisses.

Victims have reported losses ranging between £40 and £240.

The Shooting Star Refund and Complaint Group, set up on Facebook, has 811 members, suggesting the fraud could have cost victims at least £32,000.

Action Fraud issued the following advice:

• If you have fallen victim report it to Action Fraud. This will allow police to gain a better understanding of the scale of the fraud and build an investigation.

• If you have paid via PayPal request a refund. Give PayPal your Police Crime Reference Number (NFRC) from Action Fraud. They can be contacted on 0800 358 7911.

• If you have paid the fraudster via bank transfer, notify your bank immediately. They can try and recover the funds.

Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud.