Police warn businesses after reports of parcel delivery scam
Police are warning business owners across Leicestershire to be alert after receiving reports about a parcel delivery scam.
In the past week six businesses in Melton, Harborough and Leicester have contacted officers to report that they have been a victim of the scam.
All victims reported that a man called them and claimed to be a member of staff from a business close to them.
The caller explained to the victims that he was due to get a parcel delivered, but unfortunately he would not be there to receive it.
He then appealed to the victims’ good nature and asked them to accept the parcel on his behalf and pay the delivery, telling them he would reimburse them later that day when he collected the parcel from them.
Soon after the phone call, about 10 to 15 minutes later, a man who claimed to be a courier appeared at the victims’ businesses and asked them for a delivery charge of about £70. Once the charge was paid the courier left the parcel with the victim.
Following the delivery some of the victims took the parcel to the local business, who they believed the parcel was for, where it was established that the whole thing was a scam.
The man posing as a courier is described as white and about 6ft tall.
Sergeant Peter Chotak, one of the officers involved in the investigation, said: “It’s very disappointing to think that the suspect took advantage of the good nature of the victims to trick them out of their earnings.
“We are hoping that this warning will reach all business owners across Leicestershire and prevent this happening to anyone else.
“If you have any information about these incidents then we would like you to call us. Perhaps you know the person responsible or maybe you have also been a victim, if so please get in touch as soon as you can.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sgt 312 Peter Chotak on Leicester (0116) 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message for a police officer and when prompted key in the officer's identification number 0312. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers, which is free* and anonymous on 0800 555 111.
* Please note, some mobile ‘phone service providers may charge for this call.
Issued on 03/02/10 at 10:42
Crime reference number: NM/0243/10-5, NM/0246/10-4, NM/0245/10-1, CM/0624/10-3, SM/0393/10-7 & SM/0372/10-6