Beware of individuals whose modus is to pretend as courier service personnel and force their victims to pay for packages they did not order.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said they received reports that some individuals were posing as delivery personnel of Private Express and/or Messengerial Delivery Service (PEMEDES) or courier service operators.
“In the reported instances, these individuals pretend that a package is being delivered to a recipient on a Cash-On-Delivery (COD) basis, despite the latter not making such purchase,” the DICT said in an advisory Friday, March 5.
“These individuals then insist on payment from the recipient once the package is opened,” it added.
The DICT advised those who face such circumstances to do the following measures: 1. Do not accept packages that you, your family, or your household did not purchase;
2. Verify the transaction and contact the named recipient of the package to make sure that the package was actually ordered;
3. If the package was actually ordered, immediately check if its contents are what was ordered by you or the named recipient;
4. If possible, try to record a self-video while opening the package. Should its contents be wrong, the recorded self-video can be used as evidence; and
5. Take a photo of the office I.D. or get the details of the delivery personnel to make sure that they are legitimate personnel.
The DICT urged the public to report such or similar instances by sending an email at [email protected].
“Together, we can deter these individuals from taking advantage of other people,” the DICT said.