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Royal Mail launches 'fake stamp scanner' – here's how it works

Emily White
Emily White
Senior News & Investigations Reporter
1 August 2024

Royal Mail has introduced a 'fake stamp scanner' that enables you to check whether a stamp is legitimate or not. It will also continue to waive its £5 penalty fee charged to anyone who receives a letter with a fake stamp on it for the time being.

In April 2024, Royal Mail was forced to temporarily drop fees for those receiving letters with fake stamps on them following a rise in people complaining they'd been fined. It says the use of counterfeit stamps has fallen by around 90% since it introduced barcodes on stamps in 2022.

Royal Mail's new 'fake stamp scanner' is available in its mobile app

You can find the new stamp scanner in the free Royal Mail app. To use it, select 'Stamps', then 'Counterfeit stamp scanner'. The app will use your phone's camera to scan the stamp and tell you whether it's genuine or not.

If the stamp is flagged as counterfeit, you can report it via the Royal Mail website. You'll need to include the details of where you bought it. Royal Mail will then investigate and potentially take action against the seller – we've asked exactly what this would entail and will update this story when we know more.

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Royal Mail Stamp Checker in action

You won't be charged if you get a letter with a fake stamp on – but you could be if you send one

Royal Mail has confirmed it will continue to temporarily waive the £5 penalty fee for anyone receiving a letter with a fake stamp on it, adding that this temporary pause will be kept "under review". This means that instead of being charged, the letter you receive will have a sticker on it telling you a fake stamp has been used.

Unfortunately, you WON'T be reimbursed if you believe you were wrongly charged prior to the pause, as Royal Mail has confirmed it won't be issuing backdated refunds.

If you post an item using a fake stamp and your address is noted (for example, a return to sender note) you will receive the £5 penalty instead. If you think you were incorrectly issued the £5 penalty – for example, if you don't think the stamp you used is counterfeit – you can call Royal Mail on 03457 740 740 to challenge it.

How to try to spot counterfeit stamps

Here are some tips from Royal Mail to help you avoid buying fake stamps:

  • Check if the stamp has an unusually shiny surface, unusual colouration or inaccurate perforations. This could indicate that the stamp is counterfeit.

  • Be wary of online retailers selling stamps at discounted prices. Royal Mail told us it does not sell stamps with large discounts. Any seller advertising stamps for sale and promoting a discount that looks "too good to be true" could be selling fakes.

  • Wherever possible, buy your stamps from a reputable seller. Royal Mail says this includes its own online shop, the Post Office and "reputable high street retailers" – though it hasn't specified any examples. It may be worth hanging onto your receipt, so you've proof of purchase just in case it's needed.

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