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Royal Mail has warned customers about a new “depot scam” currently doing the rounds in the UK.
The latest scam involves a fake email telling customers about a missed parcel delivery.
The email asks customers to settle a fee and provide their personal details.
One recipient posted the message on Twitter and said: “I keep receiving e-mails which appear to be from Royal Mail, informing me that they’ve failed to deliver a parcel because there’s £2.95 postage to pay and they’re asking to pay online.
Royal Mail has warned customers about a new “depot email scam”
“So, I called Royal Mail Depot and the supervisor there checked it out and confirmed that it’s a scam, so beware folks and stay safe.”
The link leads to a web page which references a package number and asks for a full name and a date of birth.
Royal Mail has advised people not to click on the link.
A spokesman added: “This isn’t something that’s been sent by us.
@RoyalMailHelp @RoyalMail just thought I’d share the scam email I’ve received today! pic.twitter.com/XyyNsE4De8
— Karen (@Karen47294741) February 13, 2021
“Please don’t click on any URL’s in the message.
“We’re currently investigating this with our security team.”
How to spot a fake email
Check at the top.
Fraudsters often use subjects or greetings that are impersonal and general, like “Attention Royal Mail Customer”.
They may use a forged email address in the “from” field like “delivery@royalmail.com”.
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They may even use the Royal Mail logo.
The sender, subject and content may change slightly but often they:
- state there’s a parcel waiting to be collected
- ask for payment before an item can be released for delivery
- prompts you to open a link or document
- asks you to send a text message or call a phone premium rate phone number
Protect your information
Never send sensitive, personal information, security details or credit card numbers by email.
Never click on a link in an email if you are unsure about it, especially if it asks for personal financial information, this might attempt to install malware on to your computer.
Make sure you have a spam filter on your email account.
Reporting potential scams
If you receive a suspicious email or discover a Royal Mail branded website which you think is fraudulent, let them know by completing an online form.
If you have been the victim of a payment scam, you can get a crime reference number by reporting it to your local police station.
