Police are looking for an Asian man who is scamming money from unwitting cashiers at Subway restaurants across the South Island.

The man appears to have started his scamming spree in Dunedin and headed north, with the latest report in Kaikoura on Monday.

Sergeant Simon Paget, of Cromwell, said the man used big gestures in an attempt to fluster the teller.

His modus operandi was to buy a "low value item" like chips or a drink, and hand over a $100 note.

Once the cashier handed over the change, he appeared to accidentally drop some coins.

While picking the money up, he slips a $20 note or two into his socks or a pocket.

He then tells the cashier he does in fact have the correct change and asks for the $100 back.

The man hands back the change he was given - minus the hidden notes.

He then pays as normal.

"He's quite expressive, waving his arms about. Before they know it, he goes, 'righto thank-you' and walks out the door," Paget said.

The man was driving a white Toyota hatchback which was rented from an Auckland car rental company.

Paget said the man had pulled off the stunt at Subway stores in Frankton and Cromwell on Sunday and Kaikoura on Monday.

"In Kaikoura, the cashier was smart enough and counted the change," he said.

The man had apologised and given the correct change back.

"It's a simple ploy and one he can wriggle himself out of," Paget said.

"He seems to be quite polished."

Cromwell police knew of similar incidents reported at two Dunedin stores at the weekend, but he did not yet know if they were Subway restaurants.

Paget said the man was only taking low sums of money in each place, but it would add up.

Anyone with information on the man or who saw him carrying out the scam was urged to contact police.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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