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Scots have been warned to keep an eye out for fraudulent text messages purporting to be from delivery companies.
People across the country have been receiving messages that claim to be from couriers such as Royal Mail, Hermes, and DPD that contain a supposed tracking link – and when users follow these they may inadvertently give scammers their personal data.
Trading Standards Scotland has now released guidance for Scots on how to spot these fake texts and emails, which have become increasingly common since the beginning of the pandemic as more and more people shop online.
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As reported by the Daily Record, consumer watchdog Which? also recorded a rise in the number of fraudulent text messages from scammers claiming to be delivery companies.
Trading Standards Scotland said: “Scam delivery messages usually ask you to act urgently in order to avoid losing a package.
“Be suspicious of any message which appears to be from an official company or organisation and tells you that you must provide your details or a payment within a certain time frame.”
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How to spot a fake text
Fake messages often appear at first glance to be very obviously from the companies they claim to be, which is why it is important for Scots to be able to recognise the telltale signs of a fraudulent text or email.
These are often sent from a number which has masked the sender ID, or leads to a cloned Hermes, Royail Mail or DPD website.
They could look like the following messages:
- Your package has a £2.99 unpaid shipping fee. Pay now by tapping on this link… If not paid are turn to sender will be requested.
- The freight payment for your package was declined. To get your parcel delivered to your desired destination point you need to pay an extra delivery fee of £1.99. Pay freight.
- Your Royal Mail parcel is awaiting delivery. Please confirm the settlement of 1.99 (GBP) using the following link…
- We’re sorry to let you know that your package which arrived on 25/03/21 will be sent back. This may happen when the receiver’s address is incorrect. To redeliver please fill out the form: Redeliver your parcel.
- We attempted to deliver your package at 12:35 on 25/03/21 but nobody was available. Your parcel was returned to our depot and you need to reschedule your package delivery by pressing here…
- DPD: Sorry we missed you. To book your delivery for another day please visit this link
How can I tell if a message about a delivery is a scam?
The Royal Mail will never send you an unexpected text message or an email asking for personal or payment details.
They do not collect shipping costs by email or text. If you need to pay an extra delivery charge, they will post a card through your door to let you know.
Scam emails often use impersonal greetings such as ‘Dear Royal Mail Customer’ and they may contain spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Scam delivery messages usually ask you to act urgently in order to avoid losing a package.
Trading Standards Scotland said: “Be suspicious of any message which appears to be from an official company or organisation and tells you that you must provide your details or a payment within a certain time frame.”
What should I do if I get one of these messages?
The aim of these messages is to obtain your personal details and payment information.
They often ask you to click on a link, which will lead to a website with official-looking branding and logos.
Trading Standards Scotland said: “Never click on links in unexpected emails or text messages and never enter any payment or personal details.
“If you are unsure whether a message about a delivery is genuine, contact the company using details found on their official website or in a telephone directory.
“Report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland using their free consumer helpline: 0808 164 6000 or via their online reporting tool at www.scamwatch.scot.
“If you have lost money or are worried that you have given your bank details to scammers, contact Police Scotland on 101.”
