Fraud prevention – protecting yourself from courier fraud
Posted by Matthew Andrews on May 15th, 2025.
Your safety and the security of your money is our highest priority, and we implement stringent safeguarding measures to protect all our customers. However, it’s also important for you to take steps to shield yourself from fraud.
To assist you in identifying potential scams and staying secure, we are publishing a series of articles focused on fraud protection. This article specifically addresses courier fraud.
What is courier fraud?
Courier fraud will usually start with a fraudster contacting their victim by phone and posing as a representative from a bank, utility company, or some other legitimate organisation. They will then pressure their victim into disclosing their personal or financial information, or to transfer funds to a specified account.
Once they have managed to persuade the victim, the scammer arranges for a courier to collect documents, cash, or other valuables under the guise of securing or verifying them. The courier often appears credible, sometimes even carrying fake identification.
Once the fraudster has obtained the requested items, they disappear, leaving the victim without their money or belongings. These scams are highly deceptive and prey on trust and urgency.
An example of courier fraud
Mark, a retired teacher, received a call from someone claiming to be from his bank’s fraud department. The caller claimed there had been suspicious activity on his account and that a replacement card needed to be issued immediately to protect his funds.
Concerned, Mark followed their instructions and provided his full name, address, and card details for ‘verification’. The caller then informed him that a bank courier would arrive shortly to collect his old card for destruction.
Later that day, a man in a uniform arrived at Mark’s door with what appeared to be a bank ID badge. Mark handed over his debit card, believing it to be a legitimate security measure.
Days later, Mark noticed several unauthorised transactions on his account. Upon contacting his bank, he learnt that no such request for his debit card had been made, and that he had in fact been scammed.
Five tips on how to protect yourself
- Verify any unexpected requests
If you receive a call, email, or message asking for personal details, money, or access to your property, always confirm its legitimacy. Contact the organisation directly using official contact details from their website or a recent statement.
Look for red flags like poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or unusual email addresses, as these can be giveaways that the request is not legitimate.
- Avoid sharing sensitive information
Never share sensitive information like passwords, PINs, or account details over the phone or via email, especially if the request is unsolicited. Reputable organisations have proper verification processes and will not ask for personal details in an unsecure manner.
- Don’t act under pressure
Fraudsters often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring victims to act quickly without thinking. If a request seems urgent or demands immediate action, take a step back and verify its legitimacy before proceeding. Authentic requests rarely require rushed decisions.
- Double check website links and domains
Before clicking on any links in emails or text messages, hover over the link to inspect the actual URL. Be wary of links that look suspicious or appear slightly different from the official website of the organisation they claim to represent. Scammers often use fake websites that closely mimic legitimate ones.
- Ignore requests for cash or cards
No legitimate company will ask you to withdraw cash for a courier, send someone to collect your bank cards, or demand immediate payment over the phone. If this happens, it is almost certainly a scam.
If someone targets you
If you suspect you are being targeted or have fallen victim to a courier scam, it’s crucial to act quickly to minimise potential damage and secure your accounts.
If you have lost money to a scam, report it immediately to Action Fraud, the UK’s national centre for reporting fraud and cybercrime, or the equivalent authority in your country.
Next, contact your bank or relevant service providers as soon as possible to alert them of the situation.
For reporting different types of scams, you can use Ofcom’s scam reporting service. You can also forward suspicious text messages or WhatsApp messages to 7726. To report fraudulent calls, text ‘call’ followed by the suspicious number to 7726.
If you receive a phishing email, forward it to [email protected]. Suspicious websites should be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
More information on courier fraud
The FCA website is an excellent resource for verifying company details and learning about how to protect yourself from fraud.
Action Fraud’s website provides additional guidance, tools, and advice to help you protect yourself from different types of fraud. You can also report fraud incidents directly through their platform.
If you’ve been affected by courier fraud, the independent charity Victim Support can provide free specialist help and resources.
Lastly, if you’re sending money overseas with TorFX and have any security concerns, no matter how small, reach out to us. We’re always here to help and provide reassurance for safe, secure transfers.
Finally, if you’re worried that your TorFX account may be at risk, contact us as soon as possible and we’ll be happy to help. You can also download our app, or use our online platform, to keep an eye on your transfers.
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