The first Christmas scam is a hoax?
Having passed on some vital information yesterday about a Christmas scam, we have since received information that this may have been a hoax. We would now like to draw your attention to Action Fraud and refer you now to their website: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/hoax-email-from-pds-parcel-delivery-service-nov12
Action Fraud, on their website, is reminding everyone that a chain email circulating warning about a postal scam that could leave you £315 out of pocket - is a hoax. The following is what they say on the website.
The hoax email reads:
"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."
If you receive this email just delete it and do not to forward it to anyone.
PhonepayPlus, is aware that a chain e-mail about an alleged postal scam is being circulated on the internet.
The email refers to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (PhonepayPlus' former name).
PhonepayPlus appreciates that recipients of the email may want to find out more information about the alleged scam and has therefore issued the following statement:
The chain email refers to a service (operating on 0906 6611911) that was shut down by PhonepayPlus (then ICSTIS) in December 2005.
PhonepayPlus subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), £10,000.
The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.
You do NOT need to contact PhonepayPlus, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost eight years ago. If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward this statement from PhonepayPlus.
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, 8am-6pm) for further guidance.
For more detailed information about PhonepayPlus’ work, please visit www.phonepayplus.org.uk.
Please note: Action Fraud is not responsible for the content on external websites.
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use their online fraud reporting tool.
RPS hopes this will be the last of the hoaxes and scams this Christmas, but we continue to alert you, just in case!
For any travel concerns, please contact us at [email protected]
Photo: with thanks to www.syntheticremarks.com