Post Office warns of customs email phishing scam

The South African Post Office (Sapo) warns customers of fraudulent emails calling for outstanding customs fees to be paid online.

According to a statement by the national post office, issued by media office Johan Kruger, emails received by customers state that a parcel addressed to them is being retained due to outstanding customs fees.

“The notice entices them [customers] to click on a link that leads them to a website where they can make a payment to release the fictitious parcel.”

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Outstanding customs fees on parcels from aboard are only payable when the parcel is collected.

In line with procedure, the post office sends out an SMS when a parcel is ready for collection, never requesting an EFT or online payment before a parcel is collected.

“The post office gives customers the opportunity to check a parcel before they officially take it into possession, and therefore does not require the payment of any fees before the time of collection. Any request for an electronic payment should be viewed as a scam,” said Sapo.

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Emails sent by the post office are also identifiable by the ‘@postoffice.co.za’, scam emails are sent from different servers.

Parcel tracking numbers can also be checked on the Sapo website on www.postoffice.co.za

Sapo encourages members of the public with any information about postal crimes to contact its toll-free crime-buster hotline on
0800 020 070.

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