PEOPLE in Cumbria continue to be caught out by fake emails and texts claiming to come from delivery giant DPD.

Action Fraud has seen a surge in reports relating to the scam, which has cost its victims £242,000 to date.

Messages claim DPD was unable to deliver a parcel and provide instructions of how another delivery can be arranged. But the links lead to fake websites that require a small payment.

Action Fraud said if the victim makes this payment, they then receive a phone call purporting to be from their bank to inform them about suspicious transactions on their account and informing them it has been compromised. They are then instructed to transfer their money to an alternative secure account to prevent further losses, which is in fact under the criminal's control.

In other cases, suspects have gained enough personal details and security information to take out a loan in the victim’s name. This money is then transfer the loan to an account under their control.

Reports can be made to report@phishing.gov.uk and suspicious text messages can be forwarded to 7726.