Craig Mackinlay MP welcomes today’s focus by national media on fake stamps, originating from China, circulating in the UK after an investigation by the Daily Telegraph.

Craig first uncovered the facilitation of the distribution of counterfeit postage stamps on a potentially mammoth scale last April. The South Thanet MP found that high quality fake stamps from China, only distinguishable from proper postage stamps under deep analysis, were being offered on the Amazon platform.

As part of office purchases, the MP ordered a small number of stamps without any consideration that Amazon were likely to be supplying counterfeits. After delivery, noticing a Chinese supplier address on the delivery envelope and reading of a proliferation of counterfeit postage, the MP looked more closely at the stamps delivered via Amazon, sending them to Royal Mail for proper forensic analysis.

The stamps bore numerous high quality security features but detail of the Queen’s head was marginally different from genuine stamps and only noticeable when closely comparing these fakes side by side with originals. Analysis by Royal Mail’s specialists confirmed the stamps as counterfeit.

Craig Mackinlay MP said:

“I was astonished to find last April that Amazon, an entrenched retailer with an annual turnover of £25 Billion in the UK alone, continued to facilitate the distribution of counterfeit postage stamps.

“This renewed focus shows that the problem persists and, if anything, may have increased despite my warnings in April 2023 to the Royal Mail, City of London Police, National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, and my intervention at Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions the subsequent month.

“The authorities need to do much more to stamp out those who facilitate this practice and their illegally gotten cash.”