People waiting for deliveries are warning customers to be vigilant after an email scam has been reported to police more than 400 times. An alert was issued by Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for Cyber Crime, after fake Royal Mail emails about a missed delivery began circulating.
It says: "The emails claim that the recipient missed a delivery and has a parcel waiting for them. The links in the emails lead to genuine-looking Royal Mail websites that are designed to steal personal and financial information."
An example of the email says "your parcel is on hold" and asks for a fee to be paid, reports Chronicle Live. The website it links to is fake and seeks to swindle the recipient into handing over personal financial information.
READ MORE: List of postcodes where DPD has suspended deliveries in South West
Action Fraud said there had been over 400 reports made to the authorities over the email scam. It warned customers: "If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Don't use the numbers or address in the message - use the details on the official website. Your bank (or any other official source) will never ask you to supply personal information via email."
Royal Mail says it will "only send email and SMS notifications to customers in cases where the sender has requested this when using our trackable products that offer this service".
If customers miss a delivery "we would let them know by leaving a grey Fee To Pay card. We would not request payment by email or text," it adds. "We do occasionally send a text or email to customers to advise we’re holding an item that’s had a customs fee applied," added Royal Mail.
Read next
- Mike Graham says rats at Bristol depot are 'health emergency' that will 'ruin' Christmas
- Royal Mail last Christmas post dates 2022 and when to avoid Post Office
- Piles of post at Royal Mail Bristol centre pictured 17 hours apart
- Royal Mail parcels and letters piling up at Bristol Mail Centre
- Christmas Royal Mail postal dates, deadlines and how strikes could affect you
