SCAMMERS trying to take advantage of the festive season are being highlighted by a Rodbourne woman who almost fell victim to a bogus parcel delivery.

Earlier this week, 48-year-old Helen Andrews received a card through her letter box informing her that she had missed a delivery and urging her to call a number written at the bottom of the slip.

Expecting gifts and Christmas cards to be arriving at this time of year, Helen almost fell foul of the trick, but her suspicions were roused when she realised the card had been posted second class to her door rather than put throughthe letterbox by a delivery agent.

Having been warned about a similar scam doing the rounds, Helen investigated the number which turned out to be a premium rate line which drains your phone bill.

Helen is now warning others to beware of the scheme as Christmas approaches and unknown parcels are becoming commonplace.

“A card was put through my door earlier this week, saying that I had missed a parcel delivery,” said Helen.

“I knew about a scam that was doing the rounds in Oxfordshire because my 81-year-old dad had told me about it.

“I have had a few letters and parcels through my letter box but I had to look at this one again because I thought it wasn’t right.

“It had been posted through with a second class stamp, and obviously delivery companies do not go through that sort of postage.

“I got my son to Google the number, and it came up as a scam, but otherwise we would have had no idea.

“It is obvious it is not from the Post Office, but there are so many different outlets making deliveries these days that you just don’t know.

“It looks the same as a Royal Mail card but is green and white. It seems if you do call the number it turns out to be one of those premium lines.”

Citizens Advice guidance on dealing with parcel delivery scams says: “If you do receive a delivery card you do not believe is genuine and asks you to dial a premium rate number you can use a number checker at www.phonepayplus.org.uk or contact them on 0800 500 212 Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm for further guidance.

“The number checker allows you to enter any number you are not sure about and provides you withinformation about the company running the service.”