Potential DHL shipping scam UK
Hi
I had confirmation of an order from Prusa for some items. I know there will be VAT & handling to pay on the order when it arrives in the UK. I then had a call earlier today from an Indian sounding guy claiming to be from DHL, caller ID was 020 8266 7989. He knew my full name, the amount due for VAT, what the goods were and that it was coming from Prusa in Czechia. Given there is so much fraud, I asked him to email me the invoice so I could verify all the details and double check on the DHL website before paying. He then read out my email address, so he already knew that too.
No email has been received yet from DHL a few hours after this call, so I do have my suspicions that the call is not genuine and that DHL in another country perhaps may have been compromised. A number of others online have reported this number as a scam as they had already paid online, then got the call sometime later.
TLDR - Only pay DHL on the verified DHL website once you have a Prusa provided tracking number and never give any card details over the phone to anyone claiming to be DHL.
RE: Potential DHL shipping scam UK
Hi
I had confirmation of an order from Prusa for some items. I know there will be VAT & handling to pay on the order when it arrives in the UK. I then had a call earlier today from an Indian sounding guy claiming to be from DHL, caller ID was 020 8266 7989. He knew my full name, the amount due for VAT, what the goods were and that it was coming from Prusa in Czechia. Given there is so much fraud, I asked him to email me the invoice so I could verify all the details and double check on the DHL website before paying. He then read out my email address, so he already knew that too.
No email has been received yet from DHL a few hours after this call, so I do have my suspicions that the call is not genuine and that DHL in another country perhaps may have been compromised. A number of others online have reported this number as a scam as they had already paid online, then got the call sometime later.
TLDR - Only pay DHL on the verified DHL website once you have a Prusa provided tracking number and never give any card details over the phone to anyone claiming to be DHL.
Might be better if you report this to DHL, its always valuable information on here to warn others but DHL should be able to tell you if the call was genuine.
Although I doubt it as have never heard of DHL calling for payment, it is always done via email.
Have you had any other strange goings on recently? There have been recently advertised Phishing Attacks related to DHL and FEDEX.
Tank you very much!
RE: Potential DHL shipping scam UK
As per what you say they may have access to your email account. Be careful, as they can be able to change details on emails in order to you do payments that are real for you, like in this case the VAT and customs, but they may change the link to where it has to be paid so you pay the scammers instead of the real company.
You did a first good step, report to DHL. I recommend you that you change your email password, and do a double verification with your phone or other device.
As well check if some other accounts could be compromised.
RE: Potential DHL shipping scam UK
Update - It appears the call seems to be genuine. I called a DHL number on their website (that I sourced myself, not a link from any email) and gave them the tracking number. They confirmed they had called me. Anyway, paid online using their portal (which I navigated to directly, not from any email link) then entered tracking number and paid the invoice. Shows up on DHL tracking as duties paid now, so it's all legit.
Regardless, it pays to be ultra cautious, especially as fraudsters can easily spoof caller ID. Many others might get a call from the same number, but the person at the other end may not be who they say they are!
RE: Potential DHL shipping scam UK
DHL haven't contacted me yet - and therefore haven't given me a way to pay. Can it be done just from the tracking number?