MRM.COM : Attacking and reporting scam mail

[POSTMAN]

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/2016/1 ... cam-mail-0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Attacking scam mail

We are co-ordinating an industry-wide response

We are stepping up our attack on scam mail by co-ordinating an industry-wide response to tackle fraudulent mail at its source.

The substantial package of measures complements the significant resources we have already invested in fighting fraudulent mail.

Measures include:

• An industry-wide code of practice, supported by Whistl and UK Mail
  Specific anti-scam mail clauses to be included in all our bulk mail contracts
  Engagement at European level with other postal operators
  Commissioning of dedicated research by Bournemouth University into postal scams
  The measures complement our existing joint initiative with the National Trading Standards Scams Team.

Stephen Agar, our managing director of Consumer and Network Access, said: ‘Scams are a scourge on our society. We have announced a comprehensive set of measures to tackle this blight on our industry.’

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/2016/1 ... -scam-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Reporting scam mail

Your role in stamping out fraud

We’re determined to do all we can to prevent scam mail.

We want to know about potentially fraudulent mail so we can continue to work with the relevant authorities, who can then investigate and take action.

What can you do?

Every item of scam mail is one item too many and we want to do all we can to prevent it.

Consider whether mail could be fraudulent when:

• You are delivering an unusually large number of mailings to a resident each week
  Envelopes in which mailings are delivered refer to a prize draw, sweepstake winnings, or psychic/clairvoyant services
  You may also be delivering packets to the address containing goods received in fulfilment of orders made by potential victims.

Customers can report scam mail by calling the scam mail hotline on 03456 113413, emailing scam.mail@royalmail.com, or writing to FREEPOST SCAM MAIL. More information is available at http://www.royalmail.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

[eastie]

if RM really want to stamp scam mail out why don't they write to the customers of the letters by a D2D leaflet giving details what to do rather than telling the postmen . I'm sure the DOM would be interested in me telling him about scam mail on my round ....not

[Surreypostie]

A good idea perhaps but, we deliver envelopes, we don't get to read what is inside them. Why is it always shafted onto us? Refuse the work if they have concerns, once it comes to me, I honestly don't care what it is, people do not have to open it and they certainly don't have to respond to it.

[Daniel-san]

A good idea perhaps but, we deliver envelopes, we don't get to read what is inside them. Why is it always shafted onto us? Refuse the work if they have concerns, once it comes to me, I honestly don't care what it is, people do not have to open it and they certainly don't have to respond to it.

But some older and or vunnerable people do and that's where the problem is.

[postslippete]

What a great idea...


How about the Royal Mail give us all mailing preference leaflets (or at least, leaflets explaining how customers can contact the MPS) which we then deliver to every house in the UK so that we can inform 'our' customers how they can get their name taken off all the direct mailing lists in the UK. Obviously, this won't affect the other unaddressed items that we deliver or those from abroad. But it will dramatically reduce the amount of 'junk' mail (which, lets be honest, also includes a lot of this sort of scam mail) we push through. The door to door leaflet could also explain how OAPs can contact the Age UK advice line and what to do in the event that they might be a victim of scam mail.

But stop me now as I'm dreaming because the only reason why its never happened is because Royal Mail stands to lose thousands of pounds worth of revenue doing it!! So what happens is that Royal Mail pile the workload and put pressure on each postie in the UK to stop it, and how do we do that when we deliver thousands of items a day on bigger duties? so we know that it ain't never going to happen!

[CAMPINGBLUNDERER]

Reading the above I'm still not sure what RM want me do do day to day to reduce the scam mail , best ask my Dom for suggestions ......

Actually it would probably lead to more lapsing as we have less traffic now .......

[Creditshampoo]

They're only doing this because of the daily mail.
Been happy to earn money out of these letters until now.

[Surreypostie]

A good idea perhaps but, we deliver envelopes, we don't get to read what is inside them. Why is it always shafted onto us? Refuse the work if they have concerns, once it comes to me, I honestly don't care what it is, people do not have to open it and they certainly don't have to respond to it.

But some older and or vunnerable people do and that's where the problem is.

I fully realise that, you do work in delivery I presume? If so, like me you get masses of stuff to deliver, I can't distinguish scam from junk. If it doesn't have a stamp on it, personally, I get home and bin the lot. I deliver packets, people look surprised, ohhhh what's that they ask. No idea mate, I just deliver it, I didn't post it.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

if someone on your duty is getting scam mail its easy to spot, not the individual letters themselves, but the volume of similar looking envelopes. One on a duty I did as a reserve 10 years ago got a 1/2 bundle EVERY single day. Now I would know what to do, sadly too late for this couple as they passed away some years ago.

[steve1873]

How difficult would it be for example, for RM to have a template letter made up. Then the OPG who identifies what he believes to be scam mail reports it to DOM, who then prints out letter and sticks it in an envelope for that address. This would inform the recipient that items of mail have been identified that MAY contain scam mail, and describe exactly how variations of these scams work. Now, obviously it wouldn't prevent the recipient from then acting on these scams subsequently, but it would potentially educate them on the possible ramifications of responding. Perhaps it could include a a stamped addressed envelope and a return document so that the recipient could fill in some details, including a nominated person for whom any suspicious mail could be redirected to.

If RM are serious about tackling this, then they need to put real steps in place.

[Chewster]

It is an issue but not all the dodgy looking stuff is in fact a scam. I deliver to one old gent who gets masses of these "YOU COULD HAVE ALREADY WON £10,000" etc etc, and I did mention it to him one day. He told me that most of the letters are indeed scams but some of them are real, and showed me the Fiat 500 that he won and a cheque for ten grand that he'd won the previous week! Of course I understand that this is a real rarity, but it is a lot harder to tackle than just saying "that letter looks dodgy lets bin it"

[Mobey]

Consider whether mail could be fraudulent when:

• You are delivering an unusually large number of mailings to a resident each week
  Envelopes in which mailings are delivered refer to a prize draw, sweepstake winnings, or psychic/clairvoyant services
  You may also be delivering packets to the address containing goods received in fulfilment of orders made by potential victims.

Hmmm. On one of the walks i do, a gentleman gets 5 or 6 of these everytime I do the walk. I said to a manager, can I report this to you as I understand from the article we can report this.

I explained why I think they are scam mail but they said it isn't and it's only if they get lots of mail or different names at the address because that would imply someone is doing fraud. Also because I don't do the same one all the time I need not worry about it.....