Con-Man Targeting Cork Shops With Pay Safe Scam

Cork shops are being targeted by a con-man employing a scam that involves the use of Pay Safe vouchers.

Gardaí have issued a warning to Cork shopkeepers after a store in Cloyne was conned out of €150 in what they are calling a widespread scam.

The con saw a man, described as a non-national, enter the East Cork store and ask for €300 worth of Pay Safe vouchers.

Pay Safe vouchers are an increasingly popular form of pre-paid credit.

Sergeant John Kelly of Fermoy Garda Station said the man only handed over €250 to the shopkeeper for the vouchers.

"The person working in the supermarket indicated to him 'you have only €250 euros there' and he passed back out the money to him," said Sergeant Kelly. "So the man says he needs to re-check his money, and then it's like the three-card trick at that stage, he counts the money in front of the woman working there, but he takes out €150 before passing the cash back to her. So he has his vouchers for €300 euros and he has his €150 that he's after taking out, so he's made €150."

Sergeant Kelly believes this man is operating as part of a wider gang of criminals employing the Pay Safe scam.

Gardaí are requesting shopkeepers to be vigilante and alert their staff to the potential scam.