Scam letters are back (even though they never really went away)

Fraudsters infecting your mailbox with misleading messages and fraudulent offers every day... You've been used to that for years now. But fraudsters sending letters by post in 2024? That may be a bit more surprising.

Fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated and will use any method to seize opportunities. From fake job offers to fraudulent QR codes, fraudsters are constantly developing new ways of luring unsuspecting victims into their traps. But sometimes they also resort to tried and tested methods – like the classic scam letter. This old-fashioned (or modern?) technology relies on a sense of trust and authenticity that many still associate with a physical letter by post. A letter in your letterbox, neatly addressed to you and apparently from a trustworthy authority can create a sense of urgency or legitimacy that emails often fail to deliver.

Post from Spain

Marc Coppens from Erpe-Mere recently received such a letter on his doormat. "The letter came from a Canadian lawyer. Her client – a certain Paul Coppens – had died, and she was tasked with finding the next of kin. It turned out I had distant relatives in Canada, and I was entitled to an estate of more than 10 million dollars", Marc smiles.

Although the first paragraphs of the letter were quite convincing, it quickly became clear that something just wasn't right. "The lawyer suggested donating 10% of the inheritance to charity and dividing the rest between her and me. It was also suspicious that she used a Gmail email address, and her signature and stamp had been simply printed on the letter rather than applied in the usual way. The letter was also sent from Spain", Marc adds. "Just to be sure, I asked my relatives if they knew anyone in our family who had moved to Canada. You never know! But that wasn't the case. How the fraudsters found my address is a mystery. It's not a pleasant experience at all."

No statistics

It is difficult to quantify whether the scam letter has ever gone away and has now made a comeback. The Belgian police have no separate statistics on this subject. Bpost, the largest physical post provider in Belgium, can't show us any figures either. "We don't want to provide any useful information to the scammers or play into their hands in any way, so I can't go into too much detail on this", says bpost group spokesperson Mathieu Goedefroy. "What I can say is that we are constantly monitoring these phenomena very closely, both online and offline. A bpost parcel always comes with a track and trace code, and you can always check the status of your shipment with 100% certainty in the app or on the website."

The charm of a letter

It is therefore difficult to prove whether scam letters are back on the rise. It is clear that scammers are still using this old method, precisely because it's unexpected now and therefore more effective again. While many people are already wary of email and SMS scams, paper letters seem less suspicious.

The charm of a physical letter, certainly one with official-looking details, can reduce the suspicion that an email or text message tends to raise in us. In some cases, the letters contain QR codes or references to websites set up specifically to continue the fraud. This shows how different methods – a combination of traditional post and digital tricks – have become part of the scam tactics of today.

From lottery fraud to parcel fraud

Inheritance fraud is one way for fraudsters to try their luck. But there are many other methods fraudsters use in pursuit of your money:

• Fraudsters sometimes pretend to be government agencies, banks or utility companies in their letters to you. They send an official-looking invoice or tax demand requesting payment, often under threat of fines or sanctions if you do not meet their request straight away.
• In the event of lottery fraud, you will receive a letter or even a phone call congratulating you on a huge prize draw or competition you've won. The only condition for receiving your prize is that you have to transfer a certain amount to cover "administration fees" or "taxes".
• In the event of parcel fraud, you will find a card in your letterbox informing you that a parcel could not be delivered and you need to call the delivery company's phone number mentioned on the card. This number turns out to be a premium-rate phone number with a recorded message long enough to result in a hefty phone bill.
• Pyramid schemes are still a popular method for scammers to deceive people with the promise of quick, risk-free profits. You're invited to invest in a lucrative project and asked to pay a certain amount to participate. You will then be encouraged to recruit friends and family to join, with the promise of even greater profits.

How can you protect yourself against this type of fraud?

1. Check the sender thoroughly. Don't be misled by official logos or stamps. If you have any doubts about the letter's authenticity, contact the authority directly through their official channels.

2. Be sceptical about unexpected inheritances or windfalls. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

3. Check the email address or phone number. Fraudulent letters often contain non-business email addresses (such as Gmail or Yahoo), unofficial phone numbers or PO box addresses. Look up this information on official websites.

4. Pay attention to QR codes. Never just scan a QR code on a letter. These codes can lead to phishing websites or viruses.

5. Never respond to threats. Fraudsters often threaten you with fines or sanctions to exert pressure.

6. Have you still fallen victim to fraud, or have you received a suspicious letter? In that case, it's best to report it to the police immediately. Bpost also recommends reporting suspicious situations via the email address abuse@bpost.be.