Scamsters are using the postal service to hook victims.
The South African Post Office (SAPO) has issued an official warning to residents, in light of a parcel delivery scam using fake Customs staff and a false website.
The basic premise of the scam is as such:
According to SAPO, residents have received phone calls from fraudsters posing as Customs officials, who claim a parcel is ready for collection pending payment.
This payment is said to be for custom duties and courier fees.
The fake Customs official then provides the resident with a PIN number and directs them to a clone of the Speed Services Couriers webpage.
However, this webpage bears a United Kingdom telephone prefix (+44).
SAPO has cautioned residents that it does not require customers to make any bank deposits before parcels are released, and that it doesn’t use PIN numbers for parcel tracking.
“In instances where SARS taxes import levy on parcels from abroad, the import tax is paid at the SAPO counter when the item is collected. The customer will receive a receipt for this payment.”
If SAPO has the customer’s cellphone number, it would send an SMS requesting him/her to collect the parcel at a specific Post Office branch.
No SMS will request funds be deposited first.
“Members of public who have information regarding this scam are requested to call SAPS or the SAPO Crime Buster hotline – 080 002 0070.”
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