Police are searching for a telephone prankster who is calling up child welfare officials claiming to be soccer star David Beckham and offering to work with under-privileged children. The pseudo Beckham has also promised to take the youngsters to watch the 32-year-old former England captain's new team, the LA Galaxy.

After receiving more than a dozen calls, the excited LA County and Sheriff's Department offices contacted Beckham's representatives, who found out that the soccer star did not make the calls.

In an attempt to convince officials he was genuine, the impostor dropped Tom Cruise's name, and even described his black Mercedes and wife Victoria.