Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help stop the sale of counterfeit postage stamps online.

As a private business, the operation of Royal Mail’s products and services, including measures to tackle counterfeit stamps, is a matter for the company’s management. The Government is not involved in Royal Mail’s operational decisions.

Advice for consumers on identifying and reporting stamp fraud is available on Royal Mail’s website: www.royalmail.com/report-stamp-fraud.

Royal Mail introduced barcoded stamps earlier this year to enable added security features to help tackle stamp fraud. Information is available at www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps.

Consumers can access free advice on reporting scams through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/get-help-with-online-scams/. In Scotland, consumers should report to Advice Direct Scotland (www.consumeradvice.scot) and Police Scotland.