Refund scammers take thousands

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards officers are warning residents to be on their guard against advanced fee fraud.

 

The county council’s Trading Standards Service has had numerous complaints from residents who have received calls by fraudsters telling them that they are owed money from refunded bank charges or from a payment protection insurance claim.

The caller goes on to ask for an administration fee in order to process the payment, to be made via a Ukash Voucher. In reality, there is no payment and victims lose the admin fee they pay.

Ukash is an e-commerce cash payment method that lets consumers exchange their banknotes and coins for a voucher code which represents electronic money of the same value. They can then use this money on the Internet.

Fraudsters use the service to their advantage by asking residents to purchase the vouchers and phone them back with the voucher numbers. They do this on the pretence of checking the money is present before processing the bogus repayment.

In fact, as soon as the fraudsters receive the Ukash voucher numbers, they can access the funds and steal the money from the victim.

Head of public protection Philip Davies said: “If you receive unexpected phone calls such as these, be suspicious and never give out personal information or pay a fee. Always hang up the phone if you are at all unsure. If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is.”

For further information, contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 (Welsh 08454 040505).