Keeping you and your money safe is our top priority, and we have stringent safeguarding measures in place to help protect all our customers. But there are also steps you need to take to protect yourself from fraud.
To help you identify potential scams and stay safe, we’re publishing a series of articles on fraud protection. This article looks at courier scams.
What are courier scams?
Courier scams typically involve a fraudster contacting a victim, often by phone, pretending to be from a legitimate organisation such as a bank, government agency, utility provider or law enforcement. They manipulate the victim into believing that there is an urgent need for them to disclose personal or financial information, or to transfer funds to a specified account.
Once the victim is convinced, the scammer arranges for a courier, often posing as a legitimate representative of the organisation that they claim to be calling from, to pick up documents, cash, or other valuables from the victim's location. The victim may be reassured by the apparent legitimacy of the courier, who may even have official-looking identification.
Once the courier has obtained the requested items from the victim, they disappear with them. This leaves the victim defrauded of their money or personal belongings, often with little recourse for recovering them.
Courier scams can be sophisticated and convincing, preying on the victim's trust and sense of urgency. It's important to be cautious and sceptical of unexpected requests for personal or financial information, especially if they involve arrangements for a courier to collect items from your location.
An example of courier fraud
Joe receives a call from someone claiming to be a representative from his internet service provider, ‘MegaNet’. The caller, who sounds official, informs Joe of suspicious activity on his account, stating that MegaNet needs to send a technician to install additional security measures.
Feeling concerned, John provides his address to the caller, who assures him that a technician will arrive shortly. The caller then asks for Joe's MegaNet account login credentials under the pretext of verifying his identity to ensure account security.
Trusting the caller's authority, Joe provides his username and password. Shortly after the call, a courier arrives, claiming to be the MegaNet technician. Joe hands over his modem and router as instructed by the caller, believing it to be part of the security procedure.
The courier leaves with the devices, leaving John vulnerable to further exploitation of his personal information and potentially compromising his internet security.
Five tips on how to protect yourself from courier scams
1. Verify the authenticity of unexpected requests
If you receive a phone call or email requesting personal information, financial details, or access to your belongings, especially if it's from a supposed authority figure or organisation, take the time to verify the legitimacy of the request.
Contact the organisation directly using official contact information obtained from their website or official correspondence.
If you receive an unexpected message, look out for signs of illegitimacy, such as spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.
2. Be cautious with personal information
Avoid sharing sensitive personal information such as passwords, PINs, or account details over the phone or email, especially if the request is unsolicited. Legitimate organisations typically won't ask you to provide such information without proper verification procedures in place.
3. Don't rush into action
Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure their victims into making quick decisions without thinking things through. If you receive a request that seems urgent or demands immediate action, take a step back, and verify the authenticity of the request before proceeding. Genuine correspondence scarcely requires such urgency, so think twice before making any hasty decisions.
4. Check website URLs and domains
Before clicking on any links in emails or text messages, hover your mouse cursor over the link to view the actual URL. Be cautious of URLs that look suspicious or slightly different from the official website of the organisation they claim to be from. Scammers often create fake websites with URLs that resemble legitimate ones.
5. Verify requests for sensitive information
Legitimate organisations typically do not request sensitive information, such as passwords or bank account details, via email. If in doubt, contact the organisation directly using official contact information provided on the official website, rather than any contact details provided via message, to verify the authenticity of the request.
If someone targets you
If you suspect you are being targeted or have fallen victim to a courier scam, it's crucial to take immediate action to mitigate potential damage and secure your accounts.
If you have lost money to a scam, should report it to Action Fraud immediately, by calling 0300 123 2040 or by using their online reporting tool, and you can report it to the FCA.
You should then contact your bank or necessary providers as soon as possible to let them know what has happened.
There are various ways to report different types of scams you may have received. Using Ofcom’s scam reporting service, you can forward suspicious text messages and WhatsApp messages to the number 7726. You can also use 7726 to report strange calls, by texting the word ‘call’ followed by the dodgy number that has tried to contact you.
Suspected scam emails can be sent to [email protected], while suspicious websites should be reported to National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
If you’ve been a victim, you can also get free specialist help from Victim Support.
More information on vishing scams
Some of the organisations and websites we’ve listed above provide a treasure trove of information, guidance and resources.
As well as checking the FCA’s Register and Warning List, you can also find other information for consumers and firms on the FCA website.
Action Fraud, the UK’s cybercrime reporting centre, also has plenty of useful resources, as does Victim Support.
Finally, we’re always more than happy to help our customers. If you’ve got any concerns or questions about the security of your Currencies Direct funds or need guidance in relation to a transfer, please do get in touch.
You might also want to read our article on bank imitation websites, as the two types of scams share some similarities regarding the exploitation and theft of an individual’s personal data.
