News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

'Corrupt' post gangs are raking in £1,000 a week by stealing bank cards and PIN numbers, a new documentary claims.

Secretly filmed footage shows one alleged gang member boasting that he has recruited postmen in Birmingham and London for the delivery scam.

BBC journalist Jonathan Gibson posed as a postman interested in working for the gang.

Footage shows the man explaining that the scam involves fraudulently signing up for bank accounts in the names of people on the postman’s delivery rounds.

He then pays the posties to intercept letters containing the bank cards and PIN numbers – and return them to him.

(Image: Birmingham Mail) (Image: Birmingham Mail)

He tells the reporter that the postmen get as much as £1,000 a week for their part in the fraud.

“If you open up a new account you’re going to get your card and you’re going to get your PIN, right?” says the gang member.

“That’s two letters. You intercept the letters, bring them back to us – and you get paid.”

He claims the gang has been doing it for 30 years and has worked with a number of postmen.

Royal Mail bosses are urgently examining the footage, due to be broadcast as part of Inside Out tonight, and say they will work with the police to find those responsible.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

This type of postal fraud is a crime estimated to cost the industry around £12.5 million per year.

Birmingham postal worker Paul Akuda helped a gang make £1.2 million by stealing cheque books in the post.

He was jailed for seven years in 2014. In all, 1,759 Royal Mail employees were sacked and prosecuted for stealing mail between 2007 and 2011, the Birmingham Mail reported.

The BBC said the company declined to provide more recent figures.

Katy Worobec, head of fraud detection for UK Finance, said: “We’ve got a very good relationship with Royal Mail to help target these types of gangs and we’ve had some successes in the past.”

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

In a statement, the Royal Mail said the Inside Out programme’s findings did not "include any evidence of Royal Mail employees being involved in the alleged fraud".

A spokesman added: "We take all instances of fraud – alleged or actual – very seriously. Our security team is reviewing the programme’s findings as a matter of urgency and will continue our close and ongoing cooperation with the relevant law enforcement agency.

"The overwhelming majority of postmen and women do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely.

"We deliver millions of items safely every day and the theft of mail is rare. The business operates a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty. We prosecute anyone we believe has committed a crime.

"Securing mail starts through the selection of the right people. Royal Mail deploys a rigorous vetting process for new recruits to ensure that new joiners meet these high standards. This process includes pre-employment checks including a criminal record check before employment commences.

"Royal Mail has a dedicated security team, experienced in security risk management, intelligence gathering, criminal investigation and prosecution. This team also works with a number of law enforcement agencies, Government bodies and industry groups to protect the integrity of the mail.

"Royal Mail also encourages people to be vigilant for any suspicious activity and report any cases where they believe letters may have been intercepted so it can be urgently investigated."

The footage will appear in the new series of BBC current affairs programme Inside Out , BBC One, Monday 4 September, 19.30. This programme will go out on BBC West Midlands and will be available afterwards on BBC iPlayer.