ULEZ Scammers Took £355 from Me – Beware of This Growing Threat
A woman lost £355 to ULEZ scammers, raising concerns about online safety for others
ULEZ, Scam, London, Transport for London, Lauren Matthews
London: A woman named Lauren Matthews got scammed out of £355 by a ULEZ fraud. She’s now on a mission to warn others about these online traps.
Lauren, 28, thought she had paid her ULEZ charges on time. But then she got hit with a hefty fee from Transport for London, plus the stress of possible bailiffs knocking at her door.
She shared how anxious and overwhelmed she felt. “I had all these fears in my head,” she said. It’s tough when you think you’ve done everything right, only to find out you’ve been duped.
After some digging, TfL told her the unpaid charges were due to her using a scam website. Lauren is especially worried about older folks who might fall for similar tricks.
“The site looked legit, and I didn’t think twice,” she explained. She thought she was on the official TfL site when she paid her fee, which was more than £12.50 for two days of travel.
After moving homes, she found out about the penalty charge notice from the new tenants of her old place. She appealed it right away, but then the debt collectors came calling with a big bill.
“I felt dreadful. I cried and didn’t want to answer the door,” she recalled. It’s a nightmare when you’re worried about bailiffs showing up.
After a long and complicated process, she finally paid the fine in January, just to get it over with. But when MyLondon started looking into her story, TfL revealed she had been scammed months earlier. They eventually refunded her money.
Even though she got her cash back, Lauren is left with questions. “If this is a big issue, more could be done,” she said. She believes there should be better ways to flag these scams.
A TfL spokesperson apologized for the situation and reminded everyone to only use their official website for payments. They’re working to remove scam sites from search engines and advised anyone affected to reach out to Trading Standards.
Lauren’s experience is a wake-up call for all of us. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and overlook the signs. Stay safe out there!