Royal Mail has warned people to watch out for a bogus parcel scam trying to fleece cash from victims.
The scams are circulating by texts and emails and tells recipients to make payments to ensure their packages can be delivered.
But these fake messages are redirecting people to phishing websites asking them to enter personal and banking details - with scammers ready to pounce.
Royal Mail is warning people not to be fooled by the scam and to be vigilant over unsolicited e-mails and texts from the firm.
The text states: "Royal Mail: your package has a £2.99 shipping fee. Actions will be taken if you do not pay this fee."
It then includes a seemingly legitimate Royal Mail website which is actually bogus designed to siphon bank details.
The postal service said in a statement: "Royal Mail will only send email and SMS notifications to customers where the sender has requested this when using our trackable products that offer this service.
"The only time we would ask customers to make a payment in an email or SMS is if a customs fee is due.
"In this case, we will also leave a grey card telling them there's a fee to pay, either for the international customs fee or a surcharge for an underpaid item, before we can release the item.
"This may arrive later than the email or SMS."
"Royal Mail Group works hard to prevent and detect fraud," a spokesperson for the company added.
