Police probe village credit scam

Richard Pearce is among the victims of the Houghton credit card scam, but has vowed to keep using the garage where he fuels up fortnightly when visiting his mother-in-law.

Mr Pearce, 57, who lives in Desborough, about 40 minutes south of the village, was contacted by MasterCard last week after a string of suspicious cash withdrawals on his card.

These included several on the same day in areas hundreds of miles apart, and even some in Senegal, west Africa.

The scam could leave some people short of money over Christmas

The transactions took place after 25 November, when he last used his card at the Houghton shop.

Mr Pearce, who runs an electronics business, says the fraudsters only stopped when they reached the £2,000 limit on the card, which he uses for petrol and other petty-cash expenses.

I'd go back to carrying cash - but I'm afraid I'd get mugged Richard Pearce

"I was going to blacklist the shop," he adds, "but then I read that they have changed the machines and are making it all much more secure, so now it's probably better to use them for petrol than anybody else.

"I haven't got a replacement card yet, so it's a bit restrictive, but I'm just glad it was a credit card with a small limit and not a debit card. Some people are going to be much harder hit."

MasterCard have told him they will take the matter up with the police.

'Loophole'

Mr Pearce fears credit card companies are fighting a losing battle with fraudsters. "Whatever technological advances they come up with, there will always be someone who can beat it," he predicts.

"I'd go back to carrying cash, but I'm afraid I'd get mugged."

Lesley, a 47-year-old teacher from Melton Mowbray, about 20 miles from Houghton, gets petrol from the garage on her way to work.

Cash totalling £300 was withdrawn from her account at a bank in India on 5 December - seven days after she used her Switch card in Houghton.

Despite paying £25 a year to protect her card against loss, theft or fraud, she has been told she is not covered because only the card details were stolen, not the card itself.

"It's a loophole," she argues. "From my point of view it's a lot of money to lose at any time, but some people will be in a much less fortunate position - especially before Christmas.

"But what I am most concerned about is that the bank was not even aware of the incident when I phoned its helpline, and they wouldn't tell me when it will be sorted out or if I will get the money back."

She warns the scam will not be confined to Houghton, given its role as a "thoroughfare" to major towns such as Leicester and Peterborough.