London, 22 October 2008 - UK based, Ukash™ - the e-commerce cash payment service - has seen an 130 percent increase in UK and European issued prepaid vouchers in September 2008 compared to the same period last year.

Launched in 2005, Ukash has become a globally recognised payment method chosen by consumers to make secure cash payments online. Ukash protects online shoppers from credit card fraud and identity theft because no personal data is shared or presented at anytime during a transaction - only their Ukash 19 digit voucher code purchased using cash. Ukash vouchers are available from thousands of convenient locations across Europe and direct to mobile on Vodafone UK.

"We believe that there is a definite shift in the way consumers are shopping on-line and the increase in use of cash prepaid methods is down to two factors. Firstly, consumers are concerned about fraud and revealing their details on-line. Secondly, the credit crunch has made people much more cautious about credit and we are seeing a return to the use of cash" says Mark Chirnside, CEO of Ukash.

According to a recent report by Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), online shoppers have lost confidence in shopping securely online with a drop by almost 2% in the last year. Also there is an expectation that as consumers continue to cut back on their discretionary spending, internet retailers with a reputation for iron-clad security measures will see increased sales thereby making anonymous and safe alternative payment methods even more attractive.

Ukash vouchers can be redeemed on hundreds of lifestyle, shopping, Voice over IP, social networking, virtual worlds and gaming websites in more than seven countries.

Press Contact:
Rosa Vaquero; rosa@ing-media.com, +44 (0)207 247 8334