Business News
Businesses warned on Parcel Delivery Service scam
Link: Businesses warned on Parcel Delivery Service scam
Filed under: Ecommerce News, Security News, Business News
Correction: It appears that PDS has already been closed down, but stories about it’s existence continue to circulate on the internet as a new development (see comments below).
Businesses across the UK are being warned to be careful of a scam by a company by the name of Parcel Delivery Service.
The scam involves the random posting of cards claiming to be from PDS (Parcel Delivery Service), suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel.
The card then prompts victims to call a premium rate number - 0306 6611911 - in order to arrange collection of the parcel.
However, there is no parcel, and anyone who calls the number and hears a recorded message will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.
Trading Standards officers and the Royal Mail are already aware of the scam, and recommend anyone who receives a card from PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) to call the Royal Mail Fraud helpline at: 02072396655.
Alternatively contact the premium rate service regulator ICSTIS.
I am afraid that you have been mislead over this story. PDS were operating last year but have been closed down. There is no such thing as an 030 number and you cannot be charged £15 as soon as you are connected . The maximum for a premium rate number is £1.50 a minute . So you would have to be connected for 10 minutes to be charged £15. You can read more about this urban myth ( which has been circulating for the last few weeks ) here :-
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/pds-phone-scam.html
Comment by David Cronan — November 13, 2006 @ 3:59 pm
Thanks for the info, David - I ran a search on Google before posting the item, and Yahoo! Answers also seems to be carrying it as a recent item, hence why this story was posted.
However, I’ll post a correction as required.
Comment by Brian Turner — November 13, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
[…] Re: Warning - very dodgy mail/parcel delivery service - avoid at all costs I reported on this the other day, but apparently the scammers were closed down last year: Platinax Small Business News � Businesses warned on Parcel Delivery Service scam […]
Pingback by Warning - very dodgy mail/parcel delivery service - avoid at all costs - Science-Fiction & Fantasy forums — November 15, 2006 @ 1:01 pm