Dangerous Parcel Scam

This was recently posted in the Congleton U3A circular.

CHRISTMAS SCAM .... BEWARE !

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 0906-6611-911.

If you call the number you start to hear a recorded message and you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call !

Please be aware that the premium rate number may change but, nevertheless, please do not call any number stated on a card from PDS. Also please pass on this warning to all your family, friends and neighbours.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655.

Kind regards
Richard Cluley

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Police Report about this Scam from 2012

Snopes report about this Scam from 2006

Friends against Scams Website

Friends against Scams – Marshall Resources (Web admin is a Scam Marshall)

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Where to get help with scams:
If you have made a payment in response to a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible as they may be able to recover some of your money and will refund you in certain circumstances.

England & Wales
REPORT: contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
ADVICE: contact Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or for a Welsh speaking advisor, call 0808 223 1144.

Scotland
REPORT: call Police Scotland on 101.
ADVICE: contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.

Northern Ireland
REPORT: contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or call the police on 101.
ADVICE: contact Consumerline on 0300 123 6262.

( Source 03/11/23 )

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Premium rate numbers

Actual premium rate numbers are a sub-set of numbers under the wider banner of 'non-geographic' numbers.
They start with the prefixes 09, 118, 0871, 0872 and 0873.

They're often used for services such as weather information or for competitions and are described as 'premium rate' because they're far from cheap to call.

The most expensive premium rate numbers cost up to £3* per minute and even the cheapest cost about 75p per minute.
*Needs more investigation as some are reported much more.

( Source 02/11/23 )

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