Police warning after loan scam involving Ukash vouchers
Thursday, 29th September 2011.
Suffolk Police are warning members of the public to remain vigilant after complaints of a telephone scam.
Police have been contacted by residents who have received a cold call from someone offering a personal loan. Often they will claim to be from the Ministry of Finance, Money Saving Expert or a loan company but in all instances they are not genuine.
The caller will ask for the victim to send them a fee in the form of a Ukash voucher code by email or over the telephone. The company will then contact the victim on further occasions asking for more fees but inevitably the loan never arrives.
Ukash vouchers can be purchased from high street shops using cash and can then be used online rather than providing bank or credit card details.
They are never genuinely used as advanced fee payment for loans or other similar products. They are simply designed for the purchase of goods from Internet or other retailers. Anyone offering a genuine loan will not ask for a cash payment up front for the service.
Police are urging residents not to provide voucher details or any other personal details to a third party, especially those who are cold-calling. They should be treated with as much security as debit or credit card details.
"Fraudsters will try anything to get you to part with your cash," said a police spokesman, "so if you receive any unsolicited calls from people asking you for cash or voucher details then please do not give it to them."
Further details and security advice can be found on the Ukash website at http://www.ukash.com/uk/en/home.aspx or you can contact Suffolk Constabulary on 01473 613500.
Police have been contacted by residents who have received a cold call from someone offering a personal loan. Often they will claim to be from the Ministry of Finance, Money Saving Expert or a loan company but in all instances they are not genuine.
The caller will ask for the victim to send them a fee in the form of a Ukash voucher code by email or over the telephone. The company will then contact the victim on further occasions asking for more fees but inevitably the loan never arrives.
Ukash vouchers can be purchased from high street shops using cash and can then be used online rather than providing bank or credit card details.
They are never genuinely used as advanced fee payment for loans or other similar products. They are simply designed for the purchase of goods from Internet or other retailers. Anyone offering a genuine loan will not ask for a cash payment up front for the service.
Police are urging residents not to provide voucher details or any other personal details to a third party, especially those who are cold-calling. They should be treated with as much security as debit or credit card details.
"Fraudsters will try anything to get you to part with your cash," said a police spokesman, "so if you receive any unsolicited calls from people asking you for cash or voucher details then please do not give it to them."
Further details and security advice can be found on the Ukash website at http://www.ukash.com/uk/en/home.aspx or you can contact Suffolk Constabulary on 01473 613500.
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