Press Release
23rd August 2012
Pensioner saved from scam by vigilant shopkeeper
A pensioner in Shetland was saved from being scammed out of £180 by a vigilant local shopkeeper last week. The pensioner was cold called by a Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scammer, who insisted that they were in Shetland and would call along the house to give her a cheque for £2059.
In return, however, the caller insisted that she should go to the Ukash facility in the Mossbank Shop before a certain time that day. The shop assistant asked a few questions, as he suspected that his customer might be being scammed – and his boss then called Trading Standards who confirmed that suspicion.
Trading Standards say that others in Shetland have sought advice after receiving similar calls.“It’s very easy to believe what the caller is saying, especially if you have had a loan in recent years,” says Shetland Islands Council’s Trading Standards Team Leader, David Marsh. “We would advise everyone not to respond to such urgent requests for cash – it is all part of the scam to get you to part with your money before you have time to think about it properly.”
If you experience similar problems, please contact the Council’s Trading Standards Service at Grantfield, Lerwick on 744887 or email trading.standards@shetland.gov.uk - you can also get advice on this and other consumer issues at www.shetland.gov.uk/tradingstandards.