Consumers are being urged to stay alert as delivery fraud hits unprecedented levels ahead of Black Friday and the festive shopping season. The Home Office has joined forces with Evri to equip shoppers with knowledge to identify scams, following the government's Stop! Think Fraud advice.
Fresh figures from Evri reveal that nearly 10,000 delivery fraud cases were reported to the firm during last year's Black Friday period. Scammers impersonate reputable courier companies like Evri, using high-pressure tactics to trick unsuspecting customers.
Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said: 'As the festive shopping season brings excitement and pressure to act swiftly, it is more crucial than ever to protect yourself from potential scams. A message that looks routine could be a scam aimed at taking your hard-earned money.'
Phishing remains a primary weapon, with fraudsters sending convincing messages claiming a parcel is undeliverable or needs immediate attention. Victims are pressured to click links leading to fake websites where they enter sensitive information or make payments, handing personal or financial details to criminals.
Lee Howard, Head of Information Security at Evri, explained: 'These criminals use the "spray and pray" method, taking advantage of the millions of parcels we deliver. They know sending thousands of messages means some will reach people expecting a parcel. We will never charge a redelivery fee.'
Last year, online shopping fraud cost UK consumers £11.8 million during Christmas, according to City of London Police. Consumers should report suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk or forward dubious texts to 7726 free of charge.
