A GRAYS man has warned borough residents not to be caught out by an online scam using a fake Royal Mail website – and has called on Royal Mail to tighten up its security.

Oliver Stevens of Chestnut avenue was caught out after ordering an item from Europe on line, which was delivered through the Royal Mail parcels system.

Before it arrived he received an email saying there was a surcharge to pay on the package because of import tax and he was directed to a website that looked authentic.

Mr Stevens contacted Thurrock Nub News to share his experience, saying: "To be honest, with hindsight, I was a bit naive but it all seemed so authentic and tied in with the date the package was sent out to me. I paid the fee but only afterwards realised it was an elaborate scam.

"What concerns me is how the information got into the hands of the criminals who set this up. Somewhere in the chain someone is supplying details including an email address of who is being sent goods and where from and clearly an obvious place has to be the international delivery system of which the Royal Mail is a part.

"I have seen now that they have issued warnings but they will hopefully be looking into where and how this information leaks out."

A spokesperson for the Royal Mail has confirmed this is one of a number of scams being operated and has a website of it sown which is updated with the latest information. You can check it out via this link

It cites an example of a fraud circulating by text and email, which tell people to make payments to make sure their parcels can get delivered.

The text states: "Royal Mail: your package has a £2.99 shipping fee, to pay this now visit (a direct link embedded in the email). Actions will be taken if you do not pay this fee".

Royal Mail is warning people not to be fooled, saying: "Royal Mail will only send email and SMS notifications to customers where the sender has requested this when using our trackable products that offer this service.

"The only time we would ask customers to make a payment in an email or SMS is if a customs fee is due.

"In this case, we will also leave a grey card telling them there's a fee to pay, either for the international customs fee or a surcharge for an underpaid item, before we can release the item.

"This may arrive later than the email or SMS."

It also said it was not taking the fraud issues lightly and was constantly investigating. "Royal Mail Group works hard to prevent and detect fraud," a spokesperson added.

Another Royal Mail scam has been reported by 1,700 people to the police service's watchdog group ActionFraud. It involves emails which claim a parcel has not been delivered. The message warns that the 'package' will be returned to the sender if personal details including card number, security code, sort code, account number and mother's maiden name are not added to a form.

ActionFraud tweeted: "Watch out for these fake Royal Mail emails. They've been reported to us over 1,700 times...Help us remove malicious emails and websites like these by forwarding suspicious emails to: [email protected]."

Royal Mail has issued a checklist of things they will never ask customers, so if you receive messages or emails asking you to do any of the below, then you are likely being scammed.

• Royal Mail will never send an email asking for credit card numbers or other personal or confidential information.
• Royal Mail will never ask customers to enter information on a page that isn't part of the Royal Mail website.
• Royal Mail will never include attachments unless the email was solicited by customer e.g. customer has contacted Royal Mail with an enquiry or has signed up for updates from Royal Mail.
• Royal Mail have also stressed that they do not receive a person's email address as part of any home shopping experience.