Responding to a recent influx of counterfeit stamps circulating in the postal system, Royal Mail has decided to temporarily suspend the £5 penalty previously imposed on recipients of

letters bearing fake stamps.

Many recipients, unaware of the counterfeit nature of the stamps affixed to their mail, found themselves unwittingly subject to the penalty. In light of this, Royal Mail has announced a halt to the charge until the implementation of an online scanner, currently under development. This tool will empower customers to verify the authenticity of stamps before use.

The surge in counterfeit stamps has not been limited to individual customers; small retailers have also fallen victim to purchasing fraudulent stamps for resale. Royal Mail disclosed that it has confiscated a staggering 1.5 million counterfeit stamps and collaborated with law enforcement agencies to dismantle thousands of online listings peddling fake stamps.

These measures were prompted by a notable rise in complaints about counterfeit stamps, prompting an investigation by The Telegraph. The probe revealed that several Chinese companies had offered to produce up to one million counterfeit stamps weekly, retailing each for as little as 4p before distribution to the UK.

In a bid to combat the issue, Royal Mail has intensified its efforts, including conducting test purchases in areas flagged for suspected sales of counterfeit stamps. Furthermore, it has augmented its investigative team with an independent expert and plans to engage with retailers and online marketplaces to enhance awareness and cooperation in tackling counterfeit stamps.

A key shift in approach involves a focus on charging the sender, rather than the recipient, for the use of fraudulent stamps. To alert recipients to counterfeit stamps, stickers will be affixed to affected items indicating that the stamp has been identified as fake through scanning.

Despite the recent surge, Nick Landon, Royal Mail's chief commercial officer, noted a significant reduction in counterfeit stamps since the introduction of barcoded stamps with enhanced security features in February 2022. However, customers are advised to remain vigilant for signs of counterfeit stamps, such as unusual shine, coloration, or inaccuracies in perforations.

Royal Mail recommends purchasing stamps exclusively from reputable sources and avoiding online retailers unless they are the official Royal Mail website. Victims of stamp fraud are encouraged to report incidents through the online form on the Royal Mail website or by contacting their customer service team. Photo by General Post Office, Wikimedia commons.