I received this warning - it may be useful

by **dave robinson** » Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:52 pm

A friend passed this on to me tonight - I don't know if it's true but it may save someone some grief . . . . . . :idea:

Hi All,
Please be aware of the following:
Postal Scam:
Can you circulate this around especially as Xmas is fast approaching -
it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are
making people aware of the following scam:
A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel
Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel
and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate
number).
DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you
will already have been billed Â£315 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal
Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655 .
For more information, see the Crime Stoppers website:

by **Sleepwalker63** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:18 am

Postal scam chain email â€“ PhonepayPlusâ€™ statement
17/11/2010

PhonepayPlus, the phone-paid services regulator, is aware that a chain e-mail about an alleged postal scam is being circulated on the internet. The email refers to the Royal Mail, Trading Standards and ICSTIS (PhonepayPlus' former name).

PhonepayPlus appreciates that recipients of the email may want to find out more information about the alleged scam and has therefore issued the following statement:

The chain email refers to a service (operating on 0906 6611911) that was shut down by PhonepayPlus (then ICSTIS) in December 2005.

PhonepayPlus subsequently fined the company that was operating the service, Studio Telecom (based in Belize), Â£10,000.

The service is NO LONGER running and has NOT been running since December 2005.

You do NOT need to contact PhonepayPlus, or the Royal Mail, about this service as it was stopped almost four years ago.

If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do NOT forward it to others. Instead, please forward this statement from PhonepayPlus.

If you receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number, you can contact PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm) for further guidance.

Please go to http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/output/FAQ.aspx for useful information about how to recognise phone-paid services and understand what they cost, and some simple tips to help you enjoy using services with confidence.

For more detailed information about PhonepayPlusâ€™ work, please visit http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk.

by **alanbakewell** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:20 am

Load of Cobras Dave.

xx

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/pds.asp

by **dave robinson** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 9:20 am

Good - I knew someone would know and be able to advise.Thanks guys. :thumbup:

by **George Geddes** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:58 pm

The Snopes or Hoax-slayer websites are always worth checking before posting or forwarding that sort of stuff. As a rule of thumb, anything which invites you to send it to evryone in your address book is usually a hoax!

George