Royal Mail warn Brits about scam that swipes £315 from victims’ bank accounts

Royal Mail and Trading Standards are making people aware of a scam that is believed to currently be circulating around the country that could see victims lose a significant sum of money.

The scam involves a card being posted through letterboxes from a company called PDS.

PDS – which in this case stands for Parcel Delivery Service – suggests that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you will need to contact them on 0906 661191.

The number listed is a premium rate number, which means if you call the number and hear a recorded message, you will unfortunately have already been charged £315 for the phone call.

According to the Action Fraud website, this scam is also being circulated via email.

Warnings of the scam have been sent out in letter format via post to households and businesses across the country, and have also been sent via email too.

The warning message reads: “Can you circulate this around especially as Christmas 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.”

Royal Mail and The Trading Standards Office are asking that if you do receive a card with these details on, please report them to the Royal Mail Fraud team on 020 7239 6655. Action Fraud has also urged all residents not to call the number provided on the card, and if in doubt, to get in touch with the centre by using its online fraud reporting tool or calling 0300 123 2040.

Royal Mail has confirmed they are looking into this scam as a matter of urgency.