News Release about the Counterfeit Checker app:
Royal Mail today announces the addition of a
new stamp scanner to its mobile phone app that will enable customers to
check if a stamp is a known counterfeit.
The stamp scanner has been designed to provide extra reassurance to
customers who may be unsure about whether a stamp is counterfeit or not.
Customers can use the app to check whether it is a known counterfeit,
preventing them from inadvertently becoming victims of fraud.
The counterfeit stamp scanner is available to customers who have
downloaded the Royal Mail app. The free-to-use app has been downloaded
onto more than 12 million phones and receives 4 million unique visitors
each month.
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| Social media publicity for the new scanner. |
Once the barcode on the stamp is scanned, the customer will be told whether it is scanning as a recognised counterfeit or not. If customers did not purchase their stamps from Royal Mail, the Post Office or another reputable High Street outlet, they are advised to scan their stamps on each occasion before use.
Independent arbitrator
A further measure being announced is the introduction of an expert from stamp dealers, Stanley Gibbons, as an independent arbitrator in cases requiring resolution.
The arbitration process will be activated only in cases where a surcharge has been raised and disputed by the customer. If Royal Mail’s complaints procedure has been exhausted without resolution, arbitration will be the final stage of the process.
This will involve Stanley Gibbons conducting an examination of the
physical stamp identified by Royal Mail as being counterfeit. Their
decision will be fully independent of Royal Mail and the judgement
binding.
Customers cannot send their stamps in direct to Stanley Gibbons for
assessment without going through the Royal Mail complaints process in
the first instance.
Partnership working with retailers and online marketplaces
Royal Mail also committed to increased partnership working with
retailers and online marketplaces. The retailers the company has
strengthened their engagement with are responsible for around 90% of
stamp purchases from Royal Mail. This activity will help to build
customer confidence, while maintaining pressure on the criminals who
seek to profit from mass producing counterfeit stamps.
In addition, the company’s social media and online platforms continue to
raise public awareness about counterfeit stamps, including revised
guidance and advice to help customers protect themselves.
Royal Mail will also extend the pause on the
collection of the surcharge for recipients receiving mail using
counterfeit stamps and continue, where possible, to seek to locate and
surcharge the sender. The temporary pause will be kept under review.
During this extension period, Royal Mail will maintain the process of
applying stickers to items to advise the recipient that the stamp used
has scanned as counterfeit.
Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We continue to do all we
can to protect our customers from the scourge of counterfeit stamps, and
since introducing barcoded stamps we have reduced the number of
counterfeit stamps in our network by around 90%. The new counterfeit
stamp scanner on the Royal Mail app will help prevent customers
inadvertently falling victim to stamp fraud.
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The app correctly identified most of the barcoded stamps which I know to be forgeries - high value Machins, Christmas and England country 1st class. But it failed to identify the 2nd Large and 1st Large forgeries, and one of the earlier Christmas stamps.
downloaded app to my samsung phone, can see the stamp, looks pretty but thats it, waste of time?
ReplyDeleteWorks fine on my Motorola, scanned and identified known genuine and counerfeit QEII machins. Well worth my time.
DeleteChecked camera lens was clean before trying but took at least 30 seconds each time to find the sweet spot where it scanned.
ReplyDeleteI used a white sheet of paper might work better using black.
This and the previous are interesting as I got an instant response the first time - and every other time - I used it, whether used or unused stamps on envelopes, mint stamps on a stock-card, or in a stockbook. I'm using an iPhone.
DeleteInteresting I along with Anon above am using a Samsung S24 which is new using unused Machins 5p, 10p, 20p and 2nd class stamps so will look into changing camera settings to see if that improves it.
DeleteI do not have any counterfeit so have nothing to compare with.
Given Peppa Pig counterfeit stamps were on sale 6 weeks after issue don't Royal Mail STOP producing 'pretty' sticky labels without barcodes AND withdraw all those previously issued
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that we can expect another 'swap-out' scheme before long, probably to eliminate earlier commemorative gummed stamps and country definitives, as there do not seem to be plans to produce the latter any more.
DeleteThe non-barcoded Country stamps are already invalid and can be swapped as part of the existing scheme.
DeleteI don't think they'll do another "swap out". The current one has cost lots of money, and surely it's against the green credentials that Royal Mail are trying to portray?
DeleteArgh, tried it out on a few stamps received on envelopes, but keep getting "We can't seem to find your barcoded stamp."
ReplyDelete"But it failed to identify the 2nd Large and 1st Large forgeries, and one of the earlier Christmas stamps".
ReplyDeleteWould that be because those forgeries aren't on RM's list of barcodes that have been forged ?
Have tried several times to scan some stamps but cannot get it to work. Just get message saying try again.
ReplyDeleteCouple of thoughts, firstly if you have a genuine stamp but he forgery has already been used, will this now show your stamp as a forgery? Presumably the check is against what Royal Mail knows it has issued.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, why is there not an App for those of us using computers. I have Bar code Manager which can identify the data on the stamps. I do not own a cell/mobile 'phone. Although it seems almost impossible to deal with banks and government departments without one.
I have just reading your info on the new Royal Mail stamp counterfeit app so i thought i would give it a go unfortunately it is not available in this country (Australia) as i do collect Machin's i thought it would be a good idea as i was informed by a dealer in the UK that you cannot trust all eBay sellers as some of these stamps are nearly as good as the real thing bit scary.
ReplyDelete