People are being advised to watch the package delivery scams during the Christmas postal rush.
Criminals are trying to defraud customers by posing as well-known distribution firms, warned UK Finance.
Fraudsters sent emails claiming they were unable to supply goods, and then asked for a charge to reorder the delivery.
They then attempt to collect the financial information that is used to commit fraud.
Customers are generally deceived by clicking on links to seemingly genuine websites asking for personal and financial data, such as their address, birth date, mobile phone number, or bank account details.
In certain cases, victims will get a call from a suspect who later pretends to be from their bank’s fraud squad, attempting to convince them to transfer their money to a safe account or disclose their passcodes.
UK Finance also states that the public should be aware of an increased risk of spam phone calls and false alerts of deliveries via mailboxes.
These advertisements will ask for advance payment and to provide consumers with information that will be used later to defraud them.
“Disreputable criminals will stop at nothing in the least to commit fraud which includes manipulating the festive season to focus on their victims,” said Katy Worobec, director of Economic Crime at UK Finance.
We advise people to not send a present to fraudsters this Christmas and to require the recommendations of Taking Five to prevent Fraud Campaign. Always pause a second to stop and consider before you leave your details or money and stop commenting on a connection in an email or text message if it’s a scam.
UK Finance says people should be looking out for misnames, or cards and emails without the real name on them.
If you are asked to contact the delivery service, copy-paste any web address into a new browser, instead of clicking directly on the page, and your phone number should be checked against the company’s number.