Parcel scam beware

May want to circulate this around especially as Christmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam:

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number). DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize .

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

Please advise family members/Friends.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/pds.asp



YOUR PARCEL’S IN THE POST!!
It always happens - the parcel you're waiting for arrives when you're out. But people across the province have been getting messages about parcels they knew nothing about. We hear from two listeners who were canny enough not to call back - but many people, who've got a card though the door, a recorded message on the phone or an e mail, have done just that.
Yet ICSTIS the premium rate watchdog body said they shut down this parcel scam last year! If you’ve been contacted by a company called Parcel Delivery Services (PDS), you’ll be asked to phone them back. It may be a premium rate number or an 07 number.

Calling this number and hearing the recorded message, will probably cost you money – up to £15 for the call. There may be a parcel but it will be worth less than the phone call.

Stephen Thompson from Trading Standards Service said: “Trading Standards Service would advise consumers who receive a card or phone call from Parcel Delivery Service to arrange delivery of a parcel they are not expecting, not to phone the number given to them. Consumers are advised to dispose of the card.
The message our listeners got may be a new version an old scam, and it may not be a premium rate number, but the advice is the same -On Your Behalf talks to the Premium Rate Watchdog ICSTIS who will investigate any misuse of a Premium Rate number and will be passing the information on the 07 number to Ofcom.
Contact ICSTIS on 0800 500 212
www.icstis.org.uk

This scam was brought to light in 2005 it was true at the time but the company that supplied the phone number has disconnteced them what they said is below

PhonepayPlus has the following information about the number 09066611911.


This number was used on a scam that PhonepayPlus adjudicated on in 2005. This number is no longer running and has not been running since December 2005. If you receive a copy of the email warning you about the alleged scam, please do not forward it to others. Instead, please forward this information from PhonepayPlus.
This service costs - This line is now closed (plus any phone network surcharges - check with your phone company for full details).
If you would like to find out more about this service or have a question about it you should contact the company that provides this service which is listed below.

Studio Telecom
1 Mapp Street
Belize
Belize City
Central America
studiotelecom@gmail.com

Above text taken from phonepayplus