Royal Mail issues official scam warning

My husband had this text, however upon reading it and checking on the website, said that the postage was underpaid and you had to pay an extra £1.99 for it to be delivered.

It also asked for your date of birth and bank account details. We actually were expecting a parcel, but quickly realised that the PO wouldn’t need these details to reschedule a delivery and the PO certainly didn’t have his mobile number!

This scam has been going for a while. I can see why people fall for this one. Many of us receive parcels and being asked for a small amount of money would not ring alarm bells. However, once the scammers have your personal details they will clear bank accounts and take out loans against the victim's name. Rip Off Britain showcased this scam a while ago. Golden rule is never to divulge any personal details or click on links.

Sarnia, I appreciate your advice. But how might one not click on links? Surely we all Google.

I hadn’t heard of this until DH had a text just after we had had a genuine message from Royal Mail saying parcel we’d ordered was coming. I’m usually cautious but told him just to pay the £2.99 it said was owed. Thankfully he’s from Yorkshire and wouldn’t . Contacted the firm we’d ordered from and they said was a scam.

Cameo don't click on links in emails or texts of this type - telling you there is a charge for your parcel.

* caleo it was spellcheck, honest.

Both dh and i had the same scam,we ignored it.

Cameo, thanks .

I mean FarNorth, thanks.

My partner has this text recently, it was ignored.

What I don't understand is, I have all his personal details and his bank account number, but I cannot see how I could clear out his account? Not that I would obviously!

We’ve both received these texts. Also same from Hermes.

I first followed the link and it gives a tracking number which made me think it was genuine. We get a lot of deliveries.
I didn’t take the link any further but went onto the official Hermes website. “Tracking number not recognised”

I blocked the numbers on both our phones.

I fell foul of this once when I was expecting quite a few important parcels. I decided, in the interests of speed, to comply and I would take it up with the supplier later. Luckily Fanny Carnforth put me right and I got in touch with my bank immediately and cancelled my card. Admit, with considerable chagrin, that I was one of those people who criticised those who fell for scams. More fool me!

There are so many - Hermes deliveries “sorry we missed you etc”. Just give us your bank details so we can ruin your day. Then the beloved BT who threaten to cut you off. Amazon supposedly taking £79 out of your account. Since when have Amazon phoned you to tell you they are taking anything out of your account. Texts supposedly from a credit card company. The golden rule is if it connected to any request for bank details delete it. I even had a phone call saying that my wi fi hub was compromised and giving me a number to verify they were genuine. The number of course didn’t relate to anything but they made it sound urgent - even talking about sending an engineer to the house. I rang my provider and of course it was rubbish.