People in Stone who use Ukash vouchers to buy goods online are being urged to be vigilant against criminals trying to steal their cash.
The warning from Staffordshire County Council comes after a Little Bit of Stone reader warned people in the town when their elderly relative became a victim. More details HERE.
Ukash vouchers are used to buy online without using a credit or debit card. Scams are carried out by fraudsters who contact people online or by phone, asking for voucher codes in exchange for non-existent goods or services.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and localism Mike Lawrence said: “The county council’s trading standards team has received calls from people who have been contacted by probable fraudsters asking them to purchase Ukash vouchers then pass on the code. People should remember that Ukash vouchers should be handled in the same way as cash – you wouldn’t just hand it over to an untrusted source.
“Ukash vouchers should be bought at official outlets only. People can find out their nearest at the www.ukash.com site. Vouchers should be kept safe and people should avoid using them on exchange sites. Our advice is if something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Anyone who would like more advice can contact the national consumer advice line on 08454 04 05 06.”
People who use Ukash vouchers should use the following guidance:
Treat Ukash vouchers as if they were cash and keep them safe
Obtain only from official Ukash issuing partners and never from ‘exchange’ sites
Only use at genuine websites: www.ukash.com/uk/en/where-to-spend.aspx
Never reveal Ukash voucher or code to anyone other than a trusted source
Never give Ukash vouchers to people asking for payment up front
Check the Ukash website for their latest information about scams – www.ukash.com
