Postal Forum warns Malaysians to be vigilant as scammers impersonate courier firms via fake parcel alerts and phishing links.
KUALA LUMPUR: Postal Forum has issued a public advisory urging Malaysians to remain vigilant amid a rise in scams involving individuals impersonating postal and courier service providers.
In a statement today, the self-regulatory industry body for the postal and courier sector designated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Postal Services Act 2012, said public awareness remains the first and most effective line of defence against fraud.
“Reports of fraudulent communications, including fake parcel delivery notifications, demands for bogus customs clearance fees, Cash-on-Delivery (COD) payment manipulation, and phishing links disguised as tracking updates, have been received across multiple channels, targeting consumers of all age groups through SMS, WhatsApp and email,” it said.
Postal Forum said scammers typically pose as courier companies or postal agents, claiming that parcels are being withheld pending payment of duties, redelivery fees or verification charges. Victims are then directed to counterfeit websites designed to harvest personal and banking information.
It said a growing scam trend involves unsolicited COD parcels delivered to consumers who never placed an order. Believing the parcel may be a gift or a forgotten purchase, victims make payment upon delivery only to discover that the package is empty or contains items worth far less than the amount paid.
The organisation said common red flags include unexpected parcel notifications, requests for payment via online transfers, e-wallets or prepaid cards, COD demands for parcels that were never ordered, suspicious website links and messages that create a false sense of urgency.
Postal Forum Head Nurhafizah Hanifah described postal and courier scams as an organised threat that exploits the trust consumers place in the delivery ecosystem.
“When scammers impersonate legitimate operators, it is the reputation of the entire sector that suffers,” she said.
Nurhafizah said postal and courier operators should uphold self-regulatory standards through active communication with consumers via verified channels, disclosure of official contact points and prompt reporting of impersonation scams to the relevant authorities.
“Self-regulation only works when every industry player takes ownership, and this is the moment to demonstrate that commitment,” she said.
Postal Forum advised consumers to track expected deliveries through official courier tracking systems and reject parcels they did not order, particularly those linked to suspicious notifications or links.
“For COD parcels, recipients should not make payment unless the delivery is verified, as scammers often exploit premature payments for unsolicited items,” it said.
Consumers should verify any delivery or payment request directly with courier or postal service providers through official channels and avoid responding to links received via messages, which may be phishing attempts.
“Users are reminded to type official URLs directly into browsers and avoid unfamiliar or slightly altered web addresses.
“If you receive a suspicious message or have been a victim of a scam, lodge a report with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) or contact the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) hotline at 997,” it added.
Members of the public with complaints relating to postal or courier services may also channel their concerns via the MCMC Consumer Redress Portal at https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my/ or email [email protected].
