AN ANDOVER bakers is urging other businesses to exercise caution after being the victim of fraudulent activity.
The Travelling Cupcake, which has been operating for 10 years, received a call from a lady last week who needed an urgent order of 40 red velvet cupcakes for her daughter's birthday.
Owner Bev Botha said "nothing had seemed suspicious" and that they agreed to get it done within 24 hours, with the woman paying over the phone.
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The woman rang again, asking to pay initially for delivery and then again for separate packaging for the cupcakes. The cakes were then delivered to Locksbridge Park, where the lady was called and the cakes collected.
However, the next day The Travelling Cupcake received a disputed payment for her order, as apparently, the cardholder knew nothing of the charge.
Bev tried ringing the woman a number of times to find out if there was an issue with the order, but it turned out the number being used had been from a temporary SIM Card.
On June 13, the packaging charge was disputed too, resulting in The Travelling Cupcake reporting the incident to the police.
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As a result, Bev said her business would no longer be taking payments over the phone.
Bev said: "I was shocked someone would do that, but it is what it is sadly. Every day is a school day and it's taught us to be extra secure in the way we process transactions.
"Someone ringing up and us taking payment over the phone is normal practice in what we do, but following this incident, we will no longer be taking payments this way. It's obviously disappointing but hopefully other small businesses will see this and it will make them more aware and precautious and prevents them from having a similar experience as the one we have had."
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We were called shortly before 11.30 this morning (Wednesday, June 14) to a report that a fraudulent payment had been made to The Travelling Cupcake in Andover.
"The circumstances of this incident are currently under investigation."
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