Parcel theft and fraud – here’s the know-how all wrapped up!

With almost 9 in 10 of us making at least one purchase online last year, online shopping has never been more popular.

But with delivery delays, varying standards of service and a rise in doorstop parcel thefts, shopping from the comfort of your own home isn't always trouble-free.

Parcel piracy (at it has become known) looks set to peak over the next few weeks, as many of us prefer to do our Christmas shopping online as a convenient and seemingly stress-free alternative to battling the queues and the crowds.

Recent figures from Cambridgeshire Constabulary show some 189 porch thefts were reported to them over a 12 month period. 

The total reported value of the stolen items amounted to £33,729.74 and the average value of the items stolen was £178.46. 

Opportunistic thieves are making off with goods potentially worth hundreds of pounds at a time after spotting boxes dropped off at homes by couriers during the day when their recipients are not in.

Here are some things you could do to reduce the risk of doorstep theft:

• Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery.
• Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile, so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system.
• Arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you?
• Opt for your parcel to be delivered to a secure off-site locker (Amazon and In Post are among the most popular) or arrange for your parcel to be couriered to a supermarket or post office.  
• If you agreed for your parcel to be left in a safe place and it’s then stolen, it’s your responsibility. But if the courier left the parcel somewhere you didn’t authorise, it’s the retailer’s responsibility to sort it out.

However, for some unsuspecting shoppers, the potential for misery can start even before the parcel is delivered.

How to spot a parcel delivery scam

• Check the number. A scam text message will often arrive as a mobile number, rather than from an official source. 

• Delivery scams are often vague and won’t be specific about where the parcel is coming from – or what’s inside.
   
• A common way to spot a scam is spelling errors – check for mistakes or broken English. You may also see exclamation marks or strange capitalisation on fraudulent messages.
   
• Royal Mail will never use text or email to collect fees. If your message is from Royal Mail and it’s asking you to pay a fee, you can be sure it’s a scam. 

If you receive a ‘missed parcel’ message that looks suspicious, you can report it to your mobile operator. This costs nothing and can reduce the amount of scam texts you receive - whilst helping to protect others from cybercrime.

Reporting a scam is easy – don’t open the message, just forward it to 7726, a free spam-reporting service provided by phone operators. Once reported, you can simply delete the message.

Have a very safe shopping period and wishing you a wonderful Christmas.