A LOCAL councillor is calling on people using shopping online to be wary of correspondence from email addresses posing as delivery companies.

Sinn Féin Councillor Siobhán Currie has been contacted by a number of constituents who have received ‘phishing’ emails claiming to be from delivery companies which are circulating, and could result in people inadvertently handing over their bank details to scammers.

The councillor for Erne North said she was initially contacted by a constituent about an email they had received to say an item that they had ordered from Amazon was being held by the Post Office, as the address was missing and if they added some personal details it would be released.

“Many people could fall victim to this scam as it preys on a common misconception that Royal Mail and the Post Office are one and the same company – but they are not,” said Councillor Currie.

“The Post Office do not have a delivery function, whilst Royal Mail only has a delivery function.

“The email sent out from the fake ‘Post Office’ account seeks the person’s home address, and small print advises that there may be a small handling fee to release the item. Unsuspecting members of the public would be handing over these details to scammers.”

Councillor Currie said the person who contacted her, like so many people at this time, was actually awaiting the delivery of an item from Amazon, being delivered by Royal Mail, which added to their uncertainty.

‘Scammers’

“I have since been contacted by other members of the public who have received similar emails from scammers posing as other delivery companies who were unable to deliver for one reason or another.

“To date, everyone I have spoken to has been expecting a delivery from Amazon.

“To have your bank account emptied at any time of the year is awful, but it is much worse in the mouth of Christmas. Even if you may eventually be refunded, this is something nobody needs at this time of the year.

“I have alerted the Post Office, the Council, and the Consumer Council, and all have since sent out or shared advice on being ‘ScamWise’ with the wider public,” she said.

Councillor Currie has urged anybody who does receive anything like these emails, even if they are uncertain, to report it either to ScamWiseNI, the Consumer Council, or a local elected representative who will report it on their behalf.