Our consumer advice expert has shared the signs which point towards the tricks most criminals use to fool Brits into falling for their scams. Jane Hawkes, who runs the consumer advice website www.ladyjaney.co.uk says being aware of the tricks scammers use is the best way to prevent becoming a victim, but quick action is essential if you do find yourself being targeted.

With scam attempts reaching record highs thanks to an increase in AI-automation and a massive surge in fake text messages it’s more important than ever that we take a pause before clicking on any messages from unknown senders, even if they claim to be sent by a well-known company.

Scams are most often successful because they rely on using trusted brand names, with statistics finding that 70% of UK consumers have received a scam message appearing to come from a trusted source.

In a world where deliveries are commonplace, it’s not surprising that it’s well-known companies which scammers are impersonating to try to get access to your money and your personal information.

The most common types of scams are ‘missed delivery’ messages, messages claiming to be from customs requiring a fee to be paid or fake tracking links.

And while delivery scams can be convincing, they almost always contain telltale signs.

Courier scams rely on catching people off guard. A useful habit is to pause whenever a message combines urgency, a link and a request for information or payment. That combination is where most scams reveal themselves.

If a message does not feel right, do not engage with it. Avoid clicking links, replying or downloading attachments and instead, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding suspicious texts to the free reporting service on 7726.

But if you have already clicked a link or entered your details, act quickly. Scammers are skilled and ruthless and can take your money in minutes.

As a matter of urgency, contact your bank, change your passwords, and monitor your accounts for unusual activity.”

These are my five tell-tale signs that you could be the victim of a scam:

Unexpected messages
Unexpected messages are the first clue. If you are not expecting a parcel, any delivery notification should be treated with caution. Even if you are expecting something, the safest approach is to verify it independently.

Messages with links
Links are another major red flag. Scam messages often include URLs that look similar to legitimate websites but contain subtle differences.
A genuine courier will not require you to enter sensitive personal information just to track a parcel and instead will just ask for something simple like a postcode.

Claims of urgency
Fundamentally, it’s a parcel. If it’s genuine it can always be resent or a refund issued but scammers use language to create a sense of urgency designed to push you into panicking rather than taking a pause.

Phrases like “final notice” or “your parcel will be returned today” are designed to push you into acting quickly and legitimate delivery companies rarely operate this way.

Requests for payment
Requests for payment especially if any time pressure is involved, should always raise suspicion. Most standard deliveries do not involve additional fees after purchase and any legitimate charges are usually communicated through official retailer or courier channels.

Calls from random numbers

VOIP, or voice over internet protocol, is a way which scammers can essentially hijack a legitimate number to appear as a trusted source or just a local, or UK based, number. It’s called number spoofing and its use is increasing in cases such as bank fraud and courier services to request personal information or money.
So just because it’s a UK registered number doesn’t mean it’s legitimate. If you don’t know the number, don’t answer it. If you do and it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Hang up.

How to protect yourself

Most delivery services also allow you to set your own preferences on their website meaning that even if you are not in, you can approve it to be left in a safe place or with a neighbour so there is no need for texts and calls.

If you do receive a text or an email, go to the courier’s official website or directly through the retailer’s tracking system rather than relying on external notifications.

It is also worth paying close attention to the sender. Fraudulent emails may use addresses that do not match the company they claim to represent. The domain name is often the giveaway; no official company will send an email from a generic email provider like outlook or Hotmail.

And if you are asked to pay a fee, pause and verify. Check your original order confirmation or contact the retailer directly. A legitimate charge will always be traceable to a real purchase.