Hermes scam: Customers warned to be ‘on high alert’ as new text circulating – how to spot

Martin Lewis shares tips for sending parcels

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With lockdown measures still in place across the UK, more people are relying on online shopping. Customers have been urged to watch out for a scam message from Hermes.

Scams can target customers via email, text message or even on social media.

Police in Dorset have warned residents of a scam claiming to be from Hermes delivery service.

It asks customers to pay a fee for redelivery, however this is a fraudulent text.

The scam message reads: “HERMES: Sorry we missed you, our driver will be redelivering tomorrow.

“Please reschedule and cover the £1.45 service fee here.”

Customers are then given a link to click on where they are asked to pay.

Spotting a fake message is not always easy, especially for those who are expecting parcels.

However, Dorset Police warned customers to report the message to Action Fraud and to not click the link. 

“Please be mindful of this scam text message by someone claiming to be from Hermes Parcel Delivery Service,” a Bridport Police spokesperson said.

“This text message was sent to my Inspector so if he can get these text messages, then so can the rest of us.

“Our advice is to block the sender if you receive such a message and report online to Action Fraud.”

Customers are urged to be wary of messages that look suspicious or that ask them to part with cash. 

Ray Walsh, Digital Privacy Expert at ProPrivacy, also offered advice to those who had received the scam message, or similar texts.He recommended contacting the courier service directly if customers get asked to enter any information or pay.

“It is vital that consumers throughout the UK are on high alert for fraudulent Hermes smishing texts, because it could leave victims open to the theft of their personal information and payment details as we have seen with similar Royal Mail and DHL courier scams,” Ray stated.

“The scam message asks the recipient to pay a fee of £1.45 to have their parcel redelivered, before linking to a phishing site that steals the information they enter.

“Anybody who receives a text message, phone call, or email, asking them to pay to have a parcel redelivered is advised to contact the vendor directly to find out the status of their delivery.”

Contacting the courier should be done before clicking the links as they can often steal information, the expert explained.

He continued: “Never agree to pay a fee without contacting the vendor and the delivery service first, because it is highly likely that your parcel is still on the way and that you don’t need to pay anything.

“Anybody who falls for this kind of scam will have their personal information stolen by scammers who will use it to engage in identity theft and fraud.

“If you receive a message or email that asks you to pay a Hermes redelivery fee, look closely at the URL to see if it links to https://hermes-uk-deliver-fee.com/ as this was the phishing site address used by the scam texts circulating in Dorset.”

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