With Black Friday and the festive shopping season upon us, the Home Office and courier giant Evri have issued a stark warning about a dramatic increase in delivery fraud. This type of crime, known as 'spray and pray', is expected to target millions of Britons.
What is the 'Spray and Pray' Scam?
Cybercriminals are deploying a method called 'spray and pray', which involves blasting out thousands of fraudulent text messages and emails simultaneously. The strategy banks on reaching individuals who are genuinely awaiting a parcel delivery, a scenario that becomes far more common during the hectic holiday period.
These messages are designed to look convincingly authentic, often appearing to come from well-known courier services. They typically claim a parcel is undeliverable due to an incorrect address or an unpaid fee, urging the recipient to click a link for more information or to arrange a redelivery.
How to Spot and Avoid Parcel Fraud
One of the most significant red flags is any request for a 'redelivery fee'. Evri has explicitly stated that their policy involves three delivery attempts before an item is returned to the sender, and they will never ask a customer for a payment to redeliver a package.
Beyond fake delivery messages, criminals are also setting up sophisticated online shopping frauds. They advertise non-existent products or inferior goods, using high-pressure sales tactics like limited-time offers to lure in bargain hunters. The scale of this problem is immense; during the last Christmas period, UK consumers lost an estimated £11.8 million to such schemes.
Protecting Yourself This Festive Season
Shoppers are strongly advised to avoid making payments by bank transfer. Using a credit card offers superior protection and makes it easier to dispute fraudulent charges.
If you receive a suspicious message, the crucial rule is do not click the link. Instead, you should directly visit the official website of the courier company or use their official app to check your parcel's status.
To further secure your accounts, activate 2-step verification (2SV) on your email and shopping accounts. This adds an extra layer of security, preventing criminals from gaining access even if they have stolen your password.
The government is also taking action, collaborating with mobile networks to block spoofed numbers. This initiative has already been successful in stopping more than one billion scam text messages.
You can help in the fight against fraud by reporting suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk and by forwarding any scam text messages to the free number 7726.
