Delivery Scam Warning

21 December 2010, 14:21 | Updated: 21 December 2010, 14:26

POLICE are warning businesses to be on their guard after a business was tricked into handing over cash for a bogus parcel.

On Friday, December 17, the fraudsters delivered a parcel to a beauty salon on the High Street, Old Stevenage, claiming it was for a neighbouring shop. They were asked to take it in but they needed to pay a quantity of cash on receipt.

Believing they could recoup the money from the other shop, they paid up only to find the other business had no knowledge of the parcel – which was later found to contain worthless pieces of paper.

Stevenage Neighbourhood Officer PC Andy Keenan said: “If you are contacted in any way – by phone or by someone coming through the door who asks you to accept a parcel for cash on someone else’s behalf, do not hand over any money unless you are absolutely convinced it is a genuine delivery. "

“Con people come in all shapes and sizes and may appear incredibly genuine on the surface – but please be on your guard. If you think you may have been a victim of a similar scam, contact us by ringing the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.”