Security experts are expressing alarm following reports of thousands of counterfeit Royal Mail stamps flooding into the UK from China. An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has unveiled
a surge in fraudulent stamps entering Britain, prompting concerns of what some experts are labeling as ‘economic warfare’. Royal Mail has called for an urgent investigation into the mass forgery, as customers are left grappling with the financial burden of paying a £5 penalty to receive post affixed with these fake stamps, regardless of their source.
Complaints regarding these fake stamps have been on the rise, with The Telegraph uncovering four Chinese suppliers offering to print up to one million counterfeit Royal Mail stamps weekly, selling them for as little as 4p each before shipping them to the UK. These fraudulent stamps are readily available on popular online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, as well as websites posing as official Royal Mail stores.
The situation has escalated to the point where small retailers, unaware of the deceit, inadvertently purchase these fake stamps from wholesalers, exacerbating the issue. However, stamps available at genuine Royal Mail stores remain unaffected, as they are sourced from secure printers in Wolverhampton.
Royal Mail has been actively working to curb the circulation of counterfeit stamps, collaborating with retailers, law enforcement agencies, and monitoring online marketplaces for suspicious activity. Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake emphasizes the need to prevent counterfeit stamps from infiltrating the UK's supply chain, stressing the importance of identifying their origin and how they enter the marketplace.
Calls for a criminal inquiry have surfaced, likening the stamp scam to counterfeiting currency. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith advocates for a thorough investigation, urging law enforcement to crack down on counterfeiters. However, the Chinese Embassy in London dismisses the claims as ‘absurd’ and ‘ill-intentional’, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the internal supply chain instead of sensationalizing the issue in the media.
As the controversy unfolds, Royal Mail reaffirms its commitment to removing counterfeit stamps from circulation, citing recent collaborations with law enforcement resulting in the recovery of counterfeit stamps worth over £250,000. Photo by General Post Office, Wikimedia commons.