Warnings have been issued about a postal scam which is hitting various parts of the country.

Cards are being dropped to unsuspecting householders from a company called PDS claiming they have unsuccessfully tried to deliver a parcel. Instructions are left to call a phone number BUT it is an 0906 which is a premium rate overseas number costing £1.50 just to connect. Householders are then kept on the line listening to a recorded message at a further £1.50 a minute.

People are being caught out in particular because of the upcoming festive season, prime time for unexpected deliveries.

So beware everyone!

Full story: BBC X-ray

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Oh no, I was so hoping this wouldn't appear here.

YOU should know better!!!!!

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OK here is the low down for those "not in the know".

The email is as follows:

Royal Mail 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 £15 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at Icstis Homepage

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Can I just say in my defence that I heard about this on the BBC Radio WM local news last week NOT by email, as I do not (normally) circulate these types of mail.



Just trying to be helpful is all TW.

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Its a junk email

1) The "scam" would actually form a telecommunications fraud not a royal mail one.
2) you cannot be charged £15 for a call by connection only - the max UK rate is £1.50 per minute - if you hang up straight away you only get charged £1.50

The Royal Mail number is/was an INTERNAL FRAUD number. It was at one point being jammed and may now have been removed.

To check premium numbers use this link Icstis Consumer - Number Checker

ICTIS actually have this to say about the scam AND THEY CONFIRM THE EMAIL IS A HOAX (although it relates to an incident in 2005 - which has now been closed down). http://www.icstis.org.uk/pdfs_news/email.pdf

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Can I also say that the figures I have quoted are for £1.50 connection and £1.50 per minute.

Can I also point out that one of the guys (the travel news presenter) in the studio stated that his mother who lives in Castle Bromwich had recieved one of the cards the week before.

The article I have linked to does say that the number quoted for PDS has now been disconnected but they have discovered links with another fraudulent company.

There is also another story where householders in Hampshire have apparently been targeted here from November of this year.

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I know! Its doing the rounds again. Just cos its a police or BBC website, doesn't make them infallable from making mistakes from poor research.

All I can say is that number was closed in 2005, so someone is getting wires crossed somewhere.

A quick search and its on all sorts of websites (including MP's, councils etc).

Yes, granted, the cards were a scam in 2005, but the email and hype is now putting it into the "urban myth" and chain letter category.

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Thanks anyway Twister, I didn't know anything about it so your "public spirited" post has helped Shardy learn something else...

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Thats better Just got home to find it front page of the local paper! For crying out loud, it was stopped 12 months ago people!

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Just like to say thanks for being helpful. I was a bit harsh earlier, its not your fault, there is a lot of it around and I love you really.

.....and so does Shardy

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