Parcel delivery scam that could cost you hundreds of pounds

It may only be the start of November but already there is a Christmas scam doing the rounds.

As Christmas Day is now well and truly on the way, more people will be ordering presents online and more packages will be arriving in the post.

And as people are often out at work when parcels arrive, it means delivery workers will be popping a few notes through doors telling people they have attempted to deliver a package but no-one was home , meaning people have to call a number on the card to arrange to get the parcel.

However this has become the target of a new kind of fraud which is doing the rounds, which police have dubbed a ‘Christmas scam’.

A warning has now been issued to ask people not to call the number on the card when they are not expecting a parcel as it could be a scam which could cost people dearly.

The scam sees fraudsters posting a fake card through people’s letterboxes from a company said to be called Parcel Delivery Service (PDS) in the hope of getting their victim to call a number, Staffordshire Police has warned.

The card states that the PDS was unable to deliver a parcel, suggesting the recipient calls them on 0906 6611911, which is at a premium rate.

However, victims have been warned if they contact this number, they will hear a recorded message. By this time they will already have been billed £315 for the call, a spokesman for Staffordshire Police has said.

Anyone who receives the card with these details on are urged to call the Royal Mail Fraud team on 02072 396655.