Reports suggest an increase in complaints about stamps bought from legitimate stores being deemed counterfeit.

Anyone who receives a letter with a fake stamp is charged £5 by Royal Mail.

Strange perforations, a shine to the surface, or an off-color are signs of counterfeit stamps.

An investigation by the Daily Telegraph discovered that four Chinese companies were offering to print up to one million counterfeit stamps per week, with each stamp selling for as little as 4p before being sent to the UK.

Royal Mail is working to remove the counterfeit stamps from circulation.

Counterfeit stamps have been discovered for sale on different websites and purchased by unaware small retailers in the UK.

The origin of these fakes is unclear, but Chinese firms are suspected to be involved.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake emphasized the importance of preventing counterfeit stamps from entering the UK supply chain and urged the Royal Mail to take action to prevent their circulation and identify their source.

Christine bought eight stamps from her local convenience store Post Office and sent two of them, one to her son and another to a friend's granddaughter.

Both recipients received demands for a £5 fee upon receiving the cards.

Christine was upset about the two unexpected fees.