CCPC warning public to be vigilant of scam customs charges

As the new customs charges come into effect on July 1, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is urging consumers to be wary of scam messages seeking customs payments.

The new charges mean that deliveries shipped from outside the EU over €150 will be charged €3, applied to every unique item in the order.

The CCPC say that instances where scammers pose as delivery services are increasingly common, and as more deliveries become subject to charges, this means more consumers are at risk of falling for scam payment links.

CCPC Directory of Communications, Grainne Griffin said: “We saw a spike in scams when Brexit customs changes came in, and we expect to see the same with these new changes. Scammers will look to exploit the situation and use it as an opportunity for fraud. All online shoppers should be alert for scam texts and emails.

“Any requests for payment that claim to be from Revenue will definitely be a scam. These charges are never paid directly by consumers to the Revenue Commissioners. An Post has also advised that they will never send you a click-through link to pay charges.

“As consumers, we are most vulnerable to scams when we’re busy or distracted. Treat any text about customs charges with extreme caution. Take your time and don’t rush into paying anything. If you pay through a scam link, you’re handing your card details to scammers so you could lose much more than that first payment.”

Grainne added: “There is a very real risk that consumers may mistakenly think the changes apply to purchases made from 1 July. This is not the case. Any package that reaches Ireland from midnight on 30 June will be subject to the new rules. It is important that online shoppers understand this and carefully check expected delivery dates when purchasing online.

“If customs charges are not paid in advance, then consumers will also have to pay an administrative fee to the delivery company, pushing the overall cost even higher. We are warning consumers to be very careful shopping online this week, and in the coming weeks, to avoid being stung with an unexpected bill from the delivery company.”