Royal Mail to crack down on “scam” mail

Postal delivery staff and the general public will be encouraged to report mail they believe to be fraudulent, under a new campaign by Royal Mail and trading standards officers. The new initiative will see companies attempting to scam vulnerable people through cleverly worded mail sent warnings by the British postal operator and trading standards officers.

If the fraudulent mailings continue, those companies could have their mail contracts torn up.

Royal Mail said the campaign in partnership with the National Trading Standards Scams Team for England and Wales and Trading Standards will see dedicated training sessions run at its offices to help postmen and women spot suspect mail in the system and report it.

The organisations are also encouraging the public at large to report problem mail.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail will improve its process to cancel the mail contracts of companies looking to scam mail recipients.

Companies will receive a written warning if they are suspected of sending fraudulent mail, before being blocked from using the post.

Royal Mail’s group security director, Tony Marsh, said fraudulent mail causes upset and anxiety, particularly to vulnerable people and their families.

“This new initiative with the National Trading Standards Scams Team will help us better identify scam mail and stop it entering our postal network,” he said.

“We do not want our postmen or women handling or delivering mail that causes harm. Royal Mail will work closely with the National Trading Standards Scams Team to identify and stop scam mail wherever we can.”

Lord Toby Harris, the chair of National Trading Standards, said the partnership with Royal Mail was an “important step” to helping disrupt scam mail operations, reducing people’s exposure to the fraudulent practice.

“Our partnership with Royal Mail will help those people – often the elderly or vulnerable – from being targeted in their homes. It also sends a clear message to those behind these scams that tackling this issue is a priority for National Trading Standards, Royal Mail and our partners,” he said.

• Scam mail in the UK can be reported by writing to Royal Mail at Freepost Scam Mail, by calling 03456 113 413 or by emailing [email protected].