Laughing conman jailed for ripping off 26 small businesses

A laughing con artist who tricked restaurants, pubs, an estate agent and shops out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for 26 months. Costas Christoforou, 60, posed as tradesmen including a mechanic, delivery driver and technician while targeting independent businesses across London. Costoforou would even laugh and joke with his victims while conning them out of anything between £100 and £200, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. His usual trick was to turn up at a retail outlet and tell a…