Royal Mail scam warning as fake text messages are sent to homeowners

A fresh scam alert has been issued as individuals report receiving fraudulent text messages purporting to be from Royal Mail. These scams, known as ‘smishing’ attacks, often contain links that recipients are strongly advised not to click on.

This week, homeowners have reported receiving messages claiming a package needs rescheduling and prompting them to click on a ‘bit. ly’ link. This link leads to a scam site requesting payment.

Experts stress that Royal Mail will never request payment via a text message. Other common scam messages include ‘An item is waiting to be collected by you’, and ‘A parcel is waiting for delivery. Please confirm the settlement of 2.99 (GBP) via a link. ‘, reports Wales Online.

Clicking on the link in these messages typically leads to a screen suggesting a package was found in transit with an outstanding delivery payment due. A £2.99 shipping fee is then requested to collect your package, leading to a fake site.

Another scam involves a message stating a parcel is ready for collection, with a link leading to a counterfeit website (royal-mail. cloud) where payment is requested. Email versions of this scam also exist, with the sender appearing as Royal Mail Group Ltd. Various email addresses may be used, including press.office@royalmail.com. These emails inform recipients that their package could not be delivered due to unpaid custom duty.

“We attempted to deliver your package at (for example) 10:50, Sender: RoyalMail Delivery, various email addresses are used. The email informs you that you have missed a package delivery from HMRC Revenue and Customs and gives a link to reschedule the delivery”.

Multiple websites imitating Royal Mail selling counterfeit Royal Mail Stamps and Collectables have been recently reported. These websites may offer a discount, but once you’ve provided your personal information, the scammers can use this for future fraudulent activity, and the stamps and collectables either don’t exist or are fraudulent.

For more information on scams from the Royal Mail, click here.

Reporting potential scams

If you receive a suspicious email, text message, telephone call or discover a Royal Mail branded website which you think is fraudulent, please report it to reportascam@royalmail.com.

• For suspicious emails, forward the email to reportascam@royalmail.com, do not click on any links or attachments and then delete if from your inbox.
• For suspicious text messages, please send us a screenshot of the message to reportascam@royalmail.com.
• For suspicious calls or websites, please include the phone number or website address in the body of the email.

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.

If you have clicked on a link, provided any personal data like your bank account details on a website or over the phone or you’re concerned that you’ve been compromised, you should also report the scam to Action FraudOpens in a new window, the national fraud reporting centre. Please note: Police Scotland (via the 101 telephone service) must be contacted for scams in or from Scotland.

To report a spam text forward the text to 7726.

You may get an automated response thanking you for the report and giving you further instructions if needed. You will not be charged for sending texts to 7726.

An easy way to remember ‘7726′ is that they are the numbers on your telephone keypad that spell out the word ‘SPAM’. Visit Ofcom for more information.