Warning over DPD delivery email scam

A new scam email claiming that you have missed a parcel delivery by DPD is doing the rounds, a trading standards group has revealed.

The email, which has been designed to look like a genuine DPD email message, quotes a parcel delivery number and claims “we tried to deliver your parcel today, but you weren't in, or there was no safe place to leave it”. You are then asked to click on a link to schedule a new delivery date.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned that the linked page then requests that you make a payment.

This is a ‘phishing scam’, where you click on the link within the email and give fraudsters sensitive information about your identity, such as bank details.

Katherine Hart, its lead officer, said: “Online sales have boomed due to the pandemic, and fraudsters are using the branding of delivery companies in their campaigns to steal money.

“Because of the sharp rise in online sales many more people are expecting deliveries, making this scam even more dangerous. 

“There are many different versions of the scam, and I have witnessed evidence of scammers using other delivery company logos, including Royal Mail and Hermes.”

What can I do about suspicious emails?

• If you receive a suspicious email or text from a company, visit the company’s official website and contact them online or call customer services to check if the communication is genuine. Don’t open the email or click on any links.

• You can find top tips on spotting scam emails and what to do if you have already responded on the National Cyber Security Centre’s website.

• If you have received an email you are not sure about, you can forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by emailing [email protected]. It will investigate but won’t report back – you will be helping stop others from being scammed.

• If you think you’ve been scammed, you can report it online to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040. If in Scotland, log on to Police England.

For consumer advice about scams, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Watch out for the recent NHS vaccine scam text and get some tips to spot a scam and keep yourself safe.