Scam, scam, scam, scam, scam, scam ....

[Finless]

In my mind I was singing the words from the title of this thread to a quite well known song about a tinned product that was immortalized by Monty Python.

Anyway, I received an email about another (alleged) scam and I don't know whether it's true or not and, being a nice conscientious chap with the welfare of the YD crew at heart, I thought I'd Google for some info.

The alleged scam is:-

It must be Christmas
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

Whilst Googling I found these sites which may, or may not, be of interest:-


Prismix Blog: Mail Scam in the UK Although this appears to be a scam it has nothing to do with Royal Mail. It is a telecommunications scam. Please can you remove the telephone number of ...
www.prismix.com/blog/2006/04/mail_scam_in_the_uk.cfm - 28k - Cached - Similar pages


Digit - Forums Although the Royal Mail proclaim their Special Delivery service as a ... rakes in millions of pounds each week for the Royal Mail with their crooked scam. ...
www.digitmag.co.uk/forums/msgs.cfm?msg=2546&forum=1 - 26k - Cached - Similar pages

Latest Scam - Take Care - Ecademy It is from the Royal Mail regarding a current premium rate telephone scam. They have assessed it as a genuine scam. Royal Mail have advised that it is a ...
bre.ecademy.com/node.php?id=65904 - 23k - Cached - Similar pages

[Tricky]

And true according to Snopes

[snorklos67]

We had one of these cards pop through a few weeks ago, and ortunately it was the one time when we weren't expecting anything, and we had never heard of the courier, plus there was no option for automatic redelivery, it was all to be confirmed by the expensive phone scam....

[The Purist]

Sad, but true....

No, not Finless - the scam!

The truth according to Snopes is at :- Urban Legends Reference Pages: Parcel Delivery Service

[chas49]

Anyway, I received an email about another (alleged) scam and I don't know whether it's true or not and, being a nice conscientious chap with the welfare of the YD crew at heart, I thought I'd Google for some info.

It's partly true in that a company (from belize?) did try this out last year. The number got shut down by ICSTIS. It's not possible to charge £15 just for dialling a premiun muber - AFAIK the max rate is £1.50/minute. And of course it was nothing to do with Royal Mail or any other well-known delivery firm.

Worth being careful, but don't worry - a card through the door is more likely to mean you have got a parcel somewhere (shiny tat perhaps??)

[witchieblackcat]

According to Hoax Slayer PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) Premium Rate Scam Warning this has been dealt with. Maybe the chaps from Belize think it is worth another go?

Personally, if a card arrives and I'm not expecting a parcel the card goes in the bin and I try to get everything delivered to work so someone is always in.

[Alan Gough]

So these people are Ivon's couriers, right?

[B]

when does it ever stop?? what a sad world we live in...

[Finless]

when does it ever stop?? what a sad world we live in...

I doubt people have ever been any different in the past. It's just in modern times there are many more opportunities.