Earthquake: Free denture offer

Photo / APN

A dentist has come to the rescue of a Christchurch man who gave his broken dentures to a bogus insurance assessor.

The 55-year-old Hornby man was tricked into giving $600 and his damaged false teeth, TV and hard-drive to a man posing as an Earthquake Commission assessor, The Press reported today.

The victim, who did not want to be named, said the con artist told him he would take the money as an excess-insurance payment for the items, then send back $3400.

The loss of his false teeth had reduced him to having porridge as his staple food.

But Kaiapoi dentist Al Blackie has offered to replace the dentures for free.

"We will get onto it fast so he can eat more than porridge," he said yesterday.

The victim said: "I'm just overwhelmed by that. It's so good of him. I hope I can do something for him in return."

- NZPA