Pret A Manger embroiled in email voucher scam

The email began circulating last Friday, leading to hundreds of customers presenting the voucher to staff in Pret stores around the UK this week.

A spokeswoman for the chain, which is known for avoiding chemicals, additives and preservatives in its products, said the email voucher was a "hoax" and it was not honouring the offer.

Instead, Pret stores have been instructed to "use their judgement to keep customers happy", but not to exchange the voucher on a "Buy one get one free" basis.

Pret said it would not be issuing a statement through its website, but hoped customers would realise the voucher was not the genuine article.

The spokeswoman said genuine Pret offers were always promoted on its website, adding that most customers were asking staff in stores if the voucher was real before attempting to use it.

Pret has not received any complaints, but said it has taken calls from customers asking if the offer is a real promotion. It has not been able to identify the perpetrator of the scam.

The voucher does contain one clue that it may not be the genuine article; the word 'promoter' is incorrectly spelt with a missing 'o'.

The hoax echoes a similar incident in the run up to Christmas 2006 when the off-licence retailer Threshers was inundated with 40% off vouchers, after a trade promotion sent to partners and suppliers spread like wildfire around the country.