Don't be duped by scam parcel postcards warns Highland Council Trading Standards
19th March 2015

Highland Council Trading Standards are aware that Scam postcards are being delivered to residents' homes claiming that a parcel containing "jewellery" or valuables up to £50 is waiting for the homeowner.
The message on the postcard states: "The office is attempting to reach you. To claim this parcel and accept this offer, you must telephone the number below immediately and arrange for a delivery. The item is prepaid, but a processing and delivery free of £10 must be remitted. This fee can be paid only by telephone and only with a credit card (VISA or MasterCard). This is your only notification"
The telephone number shown on the card is a 0800 number but previously 020 numbers have also been used. If you call the number shown you are asked to pay £10 by credit card.
Highland Council Trading Standards understand that this fraud has been reported to Action Fraud by victims throughout the UK. Persons calling the number printed have said that the automated service told them the package would be delivered the same day, but did not receive anything.
Action Fraud has issued advice on their website regarding these particular scams for recipients of this postcard to follow.
Their advice to anyone who receives one of these postcards:
· Do not call the number provided.
· Do not give your card details.
· Report to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or by using the online reporting tool which can be found at: www.actionfraud.police.uk/reportfraud
Members of the public are also asked to be on their guard if they receive a delivery card through their letter box asking them to dial a premium rate number. Recipients are being asked to report this matter to Phonepayplus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm).
Concerned recipients can also contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service for further advice on 0345 04 05 06 or by going to http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/consumers.htm or visit or write to: Highland Council Trading Standards Service, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Representatives from across the Highlands are being invited to a meeting that will focus on the current provision and future of Community Transport. The event, organised and hosted by The Highland Council, will take place at Council HQ in Inverness on Wednesday 13 August.
Young people in the Highlands can call a dedicated helpline offering expert advice to anyone receiving their full Higher, National, and Advanced results on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The pupils and students- along with their parents and carers - will be able to get support with their results through Skills Development Scotland's (SDS) Results Helpline, which opens from 8am on results day.
Wick Business Park has welcomed wind energy technology company ENERCON as the first occupant of one of four new units completed last year. ENERCON specialises in designing, producing, installing and servicing onshore wind turbines and has been operating in the Caithness area since 2013.
Additional empty homes officers are being recruited to bring more privately owned houses back into use. The new posts are being supported as part of a £2 million investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in 2025-26 which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted approach to tackling local housing issues.
The Highland Strategic Local Action Group (LAG) met in June 2025 and considered and agreed funding for 28 projects submitted to the Community-Led Local Development fund (CLLD), which makes up part of The Highland Council Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) programme. CRF is an umbrella term used to cover multiple external funding programmes administered by The Highland Council.
Highland Council has provided 12 ‘Talking Tub' resources for use in primary schools across the Highlands, in partnership with Union Technical who deliver community benefits as part of the Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme programme. Chair of Highland Council's Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: "This is a fantastic initiative being rolled out across Highland primary schools which brings innovation and inspiration to early years children.
Visitors will find it easier to dispose of their litter at several popular spots across Highland after the rollout of additional bins. The rollout has been planned to support the tourism season as part of the Council's ongoing commitment to improve and support sustainable tourism in the area.
Members of the meeting of The Highland Council (26 June 2025) have considered and agreed the Accounts Commission's Best Value report, which was published in April 2025 and highlights organisational improvements across leadership, performance management and community engagement. In April’s report, the Accounts Commission recognised and welcomed significant progress within the organisation since the 2020 Best Value Assurance Report (BVAR) and commended the embedded culture of transformation.
A new generation of community facilities is being planned for the Highlands. At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June), elected members approved the work to date in progressing the Highland Investment Plan workstreams - masterplan for Thurso and agreed to nominate the current Thurso High School site as the preferred location for the new Thurso Community Point of Delivery (POD).
At a meeting of The Highland Council (Thursday 26 June 2025), Members received a progress report on the partnership approach and important successes since declaring a Highland Housing Challenge in November 2023. Since establishing the ambitious Highland Housing Challenge, important successes included: A call for sites delivered 250 sites, with a potential 25,000 housing units which will support delivery against the target of an additional 12,000 houses over the next 10 years.