Warning over telephone scams (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Warning over telephone scams

12:11pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Ian Craig

RESIDENTS are being reminded to be aware of fraudsters calling people asking for money after an elderly woman was scammed out of more than £1,000.

A woman in her 60s from Longlevens received a phone call on Monday from a man in London stating that she was due a refund of several thousand pounds from the government.

She was told that she needed to buy a £100 Ukash voucher and give the caller the voucher code. After this she received further phone calls, some of which were quite aggressive, asking for further voucher codes.

Altogether the woman purchased Ukash vouchers totalling £1,100, before ringing police and reporting the scam.

Gloucestershire crime reduction officer Paul Francis said: “If you get an unsolicited call requesting a payment in this fashion then the person is probably a fraudster, so put the phone down straight away.”

Ukash is an established international company that provides an alternative way for people to pay for goods and services online.

The company has tips to avoid fraud on its website at ukash.com/uk/en/security-tips.aspx