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The Royal Mail has announced it will introduce new measures and technology to fight against counterfeit stamps.
In its battle against the circulation of fake stamps, the delivery service will introduce a stamp scanner on its app to help customers detect dodgy versions using the barcode etched on the item.
It is set to hire an independent expert to judge whether a stamp is genuine or not once a potential fake is reported to them.
As well as new technology, a fresh campaign working with retailers and online marketplaces hopes to reduce the number of counterfeits.
This scheme will also see fresh guidance widely shared to increase public awareness of stamps, which includes advice on what to look out for and guidance on how to report cases of fake stamps.
Part of the crackdown sees “an increased effort” to charge the sender of items with counterfeit stamps charged, as opposed to the recipient, “whenever it is possible”. However, there is no deadline for the new scanning tool to be launched.
Barcoded stamps contribute to fewer fakes
Since the launch of barcoded stamps – which felt a 13% price hike in April – the number of fake versions has reduced by around 90%, according to the Royal Mail. Indeed, this means only a small minority of the 450 million stamps are illegal versions.
Nick Landon, chief commercial officer, has warned customers against buying stamps from untrustworthy sources.
Landon said: “We want our customers to buy stamps with confidence and always recommend that customers only purchase stamps from post offices and other reputable high-street retailers, and not to buy stamps online – unless from the official Royal Mail shop.”
The launch follows proposals by the telecoms regulator Ofcom to potentially cut down delivery days from six to three every week, in a bid to ensure Royal Mail’s long-term sustainability.
‘Royal Mail must modernise’
The regulator suggested the move as it believes £400m-600m would be saved in the process. However, those changes would require the Government and Parliament to give it the green light.
Another alternative from Ofcom would be to reduce delivery days down to five, with the hope of saving up to £200m.
After the Royal Mail was hit by a £5.6m fine for late deliveries in November last year, the regulator said: “Under any scenario, Royal Mail must modernise its network.”
