“Because text messages are checked regularly as part of our daily routines, people often forget to double-check if the sender or links are legitimate before clicking on any embedded links, especially if the text is sent by a known legitimate company,” Samani explains.

“If you receive a text message you weren’t expecting, it’s best to check out the company website or your company account directly, rather than clicking on any direct links you receive within the message.”

In a statement posted on Twitter, Royal Mail confirmed that they wouldn’t send a text to notify if a fee was due – instead, they’d leave a grey card.

“We’ll only send SMS notifications where the sender has requested this and uses a product that offers this service,” they added.

For more advice on how to spot a fake notification and for examples of current Royal Mail-related scams going around, you can visit the Royal Mail’s Scam Protection and advice page.

For extra information and advice on how to avoid being scammed, you can also visit the Take Five To Stop Fraud website.

Lockdown scamming: “I fell victim to the Royal Mail texting scam – and they took every penny”