Postal Scam

[D-Type]

I received this today from someone I trust so I believe it's genuine. The "Nigerian Inheritance" people are getting more subtle.

Postal Scam:

Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it
has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making
people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel
Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and
that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).

DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize .

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will
already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail
Fraud on 020 7239 6655.

For more information, see the Crime Stoppers website:
Postal scam email from Parcel Delivery Service (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/crime-prevention/helping-prevent-crime/scams/postal-delivery-scam)

[Dave B]

60p for a stamp, that's a scam!

[GridGirl]

I've spent today at a police station going through the seized effects of a Nigerian fraudster. Telephone scam's, be it Nigerian or from Belize, I'll take 'em down. ;)

[Valve Bounce]

I received this today from someone I trust so I believe it's genuine. The "Nigerian Inheritance" people are getting more subtle.

Postal Scam:

Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it
has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making
people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel
Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and
that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).

DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize .

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will
already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail
Fraud on 020 7239 6655.

For more information, see the Crime Stoppers website:
Postal scam email from Parcel Delivery Service (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/crime-prevention/helping-prevent-crime/scams/postal-delivery-scam)

Thanks for the heads up. I wonder whether these scams are in operation here. I am already getting messages on my mobile that I have won over half a million dollars, and some guy with an Indian accent rings up to tell me that he is from Microsoft and that my computer is infected.

[Mark]

snopes.com: Parcel Delivery Service Fraud (http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/pds.asp)

[D-Type]

I've now followed the link in the e-mail I received and posted above (I know - I should have done that before posting!) It appears that this particular scam has been dealt with and closed down. But there's always the chance that someone will try something similar.

The advice that PhonepayPlus (the regulating body for premium phone lines) give is:

"If you receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number, you can contact PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) for further guidance."