Apr 01, 2024 08:00:00

In the UK, stamps with barcodes are often forged and recipients are fined.

In the UK, Royal Mail, which handles postal services, has introduced a new system to replace existing postage stamps, called 'barcode stamps,' which have been counterfeited, and people who receive mail with the counterfeit stamps have been fined. The unreasonableness of fines being imposed on innocent recipients and the confusion caused by the introduction of the new system have led to criticism of Royal Mail.

Why are so many people being hit with £5 fines for 'counterfeit' stamps? | This is Money

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-13244469/Why-people-hit-5-fines-counterfeit-stamps.html

Royal Mail introduced barcoded stamps in February 2022 to replace existing stamps for tracking mail. From 1 August 2023, the old stamps without barcodes will no longer be accepted, but you can use a ' swap-out ' scheme to exchange your old stamps for the new ones free of charge.

Royal Mail had

argued that the introduction of barcoded stamps would prevent fraudulent removal of postmarks and the resale of used stamps, preventing fraud worth tens of millions of pounds (billions of yen) per year. Ironically, however, even barcoded stamps appear to be targets of fraud.

According to the British media This is Money, there have been many cases of unwitting people receiving mail with forged barcode stamps and having to pay a £5 (about 960 yen) fine.

Thanks to the barcodes, counterfeit stamps were quickly identified as such, and Royal Mail now labels the mail pieces as 'fake'.

Tony Marcella, who actually received the card and paid the fine, said: 'I received a card from an old friend and was charged a £5 fine. I was suspicious so I asked my friend about it, and he said he had exchanged the stamps through legitimate channels.' He pointed out the possibility that counterfeit stamps may have been mixed in when exchanging stamps through the swap-out system.

by Richard Ellis

It is unclear when these counterfeit stamps began circulating, but some citizens have pointed out that there may be a problem with the machines that make the stamps or scan the stamps. They speculate that rather than someone making counterfeit stamps, an error may have occurred in the stamp manufacturing and management process.

However, a Royal Mail representative denied the allegations, saying: 'We have a robust, multi-step process in place when assessing whether barcoded stamps are genuine. Barcoded stamps are received directly by Royal Mail from the manufacturing facility and either delivered to branches in secure vans or sent by secure post from our warehouses in tamper-evident envelopes. We use secure and robust processes for distribution even under the swap-out scheme.'

The introduction of barcode stamps has been met with criticism for some time now that it would 'tarnish the Queen's reputation,' and this latest incident has only added fuel to the fire.

Royal Mail has indicated it will investigate counterfeit stamps, asking customers to tell them how they obtained the stamps, their denominations, and, if they are counterfeit, the store and date of purchase.