Royal Mail scam

We’ve seen a rise in “Royal Mail” delivery scams over the last week.

Victims are receiving texts or emails purporting to be from Royal Mail claiming a package requires a small payment to be delivered. (along with other similar narratives)

Clicking on the link and providing your details leads to your money and/or identity being stolen.

There are some good examples of (some quite convincing) scam messages on the Royal Mail website.

I encourage everyone to have a look. https://www.royalmail.com/help/scam-examples

Here are a few:

**Remember that numbers can be “spoofed” or disguised to look like they’ve come from a another number.**
Which also means that if you have genuine messages on your phone from an organisation (e.g. from Royal Mail), a spoofed message will appear alongside it (as your phone can’t tell the difference between them)

Text message saying a parcel is ready for collection. A link takes you to a fake web site (royal-mail.cloud) where you’ll be asked to make a payment.

Please remember the same rules apply;

Don’t click on links/open attachments in unexpected emails or texts.
Clicking on unverified links or attachments in emails or texts can give criminals access to your devices.
Always question requests for personal information.
Criminals will try all sorts of stories to get you to part with your money or data, Never give information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. (no matter who they claim to be or what they know about you)

Your bank, or other official organisations, will never ask you to share personal or financial information over the phone, or via text or email.
If you need to check that it’s a genuine message, contact them directly via a number you know to be correct. (A genuine organisation won’t mind you double checking, or taking time to think)
Report suspicious emails you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to report@phishing.gov.uk
Report suspicious texts you have received but not acted upon, by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad.
If you have acted upon a message you have received, and you think you may be a victim of a fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040 as soon as possible.