The gig is up.

That's the message police say they delivered to a smooth-talking Portland man profiled on KGW for reportedly duping hundreds of people for cash over the past two years.

Detective Mary Wheat with the Portlajnd Police Bureau told KGW that officers located the mystery man Thursday and a detective spoke with him for several minutes.

According to Det. Wheat, the man admitted to what he'd been doing. The man also told the detective he was "going home" and that he understood 'the gig was up'.

The man also told the detective he didn't get served at a local business because the staff recognized him from KGW's report.

The story of a mystery man with a pursuasive tale of woe was first reported in a popular local blog and in a local newspaper column.

When, KGW tracked down the man in downtown Portland on Tuesday, he refused to provide any details.

"Look, I don't even know why you are doing this, I don't have any comment," he said.

Portland Police at Central Precinct were given a photo of the man Wednesday and word was circulated to be on the look-out for any suspicious activity. Theft by deception is a misdemeanor, even though officials said it can be tough to prove.

Talk of the Town Blog: Scam artist or sob story?

Oregonian newspaper columnist Margie Boule, in her column, says she's received more than 100 phone calls from readers since writing her first column about the man in February of 2006. She calls him a con artist.

Jack Bogdanski, who writes a popular Portland blog called Jack Bog's Blog even posted a photo of the man along with a cash reward for information about his background.

So why all the fuss?

The man approaches strangers on the streets of downtown Portland. He claims his truck was stolen.

"He just walked right up and gave us a story that he was an independent contractor," says Isaiah Sanders, who encountered the man downtown.

The man says he's willing to ride MAX to the end of the line, but then needs a cab to get to his house in Welches. The cab fare will cost about $25.

Sanders explains, "It's like, almost like it was rehearsed. He tried really, he was selling his story."

The man appears clean cut and well spoken.

"You know, he was so smooth," said Emily Daugherty, who gave the man money two years ago.

Your Turn : Do you give to panhandlers?

The columnist and blogger hope warning the public about this man will prevent others from being duped.