Royal Mail blocks 3m scam letters

Royal Mail says it has stopped three million scam mail items reaching customers since stepping up its drive against fraudsters in November 2016, when it launched an industry-wide code of practice, developed by Royal Mail and other postal operators.

Mail scams can include invitations to participate in lotteries with fake prizes and letters from people posing as “clairvoyants”.

In March last year, it changed its terms and conditions governing bulk mail contracts enabling it to follow up on solid intelligence by refusing to carry mail that is suspected to be fraudulent.

In April 2017, Royal Mail began proactively contacting by Special Delivery households receiving high volumes of scam mail. Under the initiative Royal Mail blocks and impounds scam mail at its major distribution centres before it reaches the customer’s letterbox.

This milestone follows the launch of several new initiatives aimed at protecting consumers from scam mail.