After recieving an Email from my Aunt today: -
After a bit more Googling, I found this on a Police Force's website: -
http://www.sophos.com/security/hoaxes/parcel_delivery.html ign3: :glasses6:
and having recieved similar chain letters from her before which she has unwittingly passed on, I thought I'd do a bit of investigation into it. Not only is there no such call charge as £15 for a premium rate line, but ICTIS and Sophos have confirmed it as a hoax.Please pass on...
Royal mail postal scam
This scam has been confirmed by our Royal Mail account manager and is especially relevant as Christmas is fast approaching:
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 £15 for the phone call. If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 0207 2396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk, or your local trading standards office.
After a bit more Googling, I found this on a Police Force's website: -
POLICE WARN OF PARCEL DELIVERY SERVICE SCAM
Police are urging members of the public to be on the alert about a new parcel delivery scam, which tricks people into making a premium rate phonecall - to arrange delivery of a parcel they never even ordered.
The scam operates by sending the unsuspecting householder a card from a company called PDS (ParcelDelivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and to call a specific phone number. When the householder rings the number they start to hear a recorded message and are thought to be automatically billed £15 for the phone call.
The fraudulent scam is currently under investigation by premium rate phone service regulator ICSTIS and the Trading Standards Office. The PSNI fears the scam will take in thousands of victims and are advising the public to be extremely vigilant. They would also urge anyone who may receive a card with these details to contact your local trading standards office or ICSTIS at http://www.icstis.org.uk.
http://www.sophos.com/security/hoaxes/parcel_delivery.html ign3: :glasses6: