Britons are being charged up to £5 by Royal Mail to receive post sent using counterfeit stamps. Some are being charged four times the £1.25 price of a first class stamp to get their mail.
A member of the public told GB News they were “astounded” after being told to pay £5 before they could receive a Christmas card with a fake stamp on the envelope.
They said: “Unfortunately, it is the innocent recipient of the mail that is victimised and ends up out of pocket.”
The angry Brit asked how people get away with making fake stamps and putting them on the open market, adding: “It all seems very wrong and needs addressing.”
A grieving family member said they ended up paying the £5 fee out of concern their item of mail was connected to the recent bereavement.
They told the news outlet: “I was rather annoyed when the item of post was delivered with a yellow sticker stating it was a counterfeit stamp.
“It looks like all the other stamps I have received. I haven’t even contacted the sender who had put their address on the back of the envelope.”
Another person said the charge was “ridiculous”, vowing: “I won’t be paying it again.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said counterfeit stamps are illegal, extremely costly to the business and can disrupt operational processes.
They added: “The vast majority of our customers use the correct postage and will not be affected by these surcharges. In order to protect customers, we increased these charges on October 30, 2023, to act as a meaningful deterrent to customers who use counterfeit stamps.”
The spokesperson said Royal Mail actively investigates fraudsters as it doesn’t like to see customers ripped off.
They added: “We regularly monitor online marketplaces to detect suspicious activity and will contact the appropriate platform to request its immediate removal.”
Royal Mail recommends customers buy stamps from reputable high street outlets or directly from its online shop. Customers should report suspicious stamps to Royal Mail via its website, to Action Fraud and to their local Trading Standards office.
