POLICE caught up with roadside fraudsters — after being tipped off on Twitter.

The couple had been seen on the M61 last week — just north of Bolton — attempting to flag down motorists then pretending to be out of fuel.

The scammers would then exchange fake jewellery for cash to buy petrol.

North West Motorway Police tweeted a warning to people at 11am on January 22 that the sellers were committing fraud and made thousands of pounds a year out of the scam.

They warned that the conmen usually use dark BMWs and often include children in the scam, which is normally carried out on slip roads.

A driver then tweeted back, saying they had seen a Ford Fiesta on the slip road at junction eight near Chorley.

Just an hour later, the police said they had caught up with two of the jewellery sellers on the M62 at Eccles.

North West Motorway Police said on Twitter: "It would appear that jewellery sellers are back out plying their trade.

"We have had reports of them on the exit slip on junction nine of the M61.

"This is a scam, the jewellery is fake and they are not out of fuel.

"These fraudsters make thousands of pounds a year from an unsuspecting public.

"If you do see someone parked up on the hard shoulder waving other motorists down. Do not stop. It is not safe."

The two people were not arrested but were reported to Lancashire Police for stopping on the hard shoulder without due cause.