Into the void

We prevent the loss of millions of pounds from our business every year by investigating and prosecuting people who attempt to defraud us.

After 22 years with Royal Mail, postman Dilip Parmar can spot a fake stamp from a mile off. He works in Greenford Mail Centre’s hand stamping team, where he voids used postage stamps so they can’t be sent again.

‘I keep a daily record of fraudulent stamps I see,’ he said. ‘I recognise them immediately; my eyes are like a scanner now.’

Dilip is increasingly finding stamps with the ink from previous postage washed off. ‘It makes me feel very frustrated because every fraudulent stamp represents revenue being lost,’ he said.

Often the differences between genuine and counterfeit stamps are very subtle, and Dilip believes many customers unknowingly buy fakes from unauthorised sellers.

‘With single items, it’s possible the customer doesn’t know the stamp is fake,’ he said. ‘Then I feel sorry for them because they may have bought it without knowing it’s fraudulent.’

Denis Rice is Royal Mail’s assistant general counsel, crime litigation and prevention.

‘Our methods of detection range from a simple tip-off to more sophisticated methods of checking customer activity but our best tool by far is colleague vigilance,’ he said.

‘Working together, we can help our valued customers.’