PackUK has alerted packaging producers to a rise in fake invoices being circulated by email.
Legitimate Notices of Liability (NoLs) were issued to obligated producers last month, outlining the charges they will be required to pay under the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.
Since then, the scheme administrator has become aware of counterfeit NoLs being sent out, some of which falsely claim to provide “recalculated” figures.
PackUK stressed that no recalculated notices are being released at this point in the process. Should any genuine amendments be necessary, producers will receive an entirely new notice directly through the official channels.
Producers are being urged not to interact with links or attachments in unexpected emails. Instead, they should log in to their Report Packaging Data (RPD) accounts to verify and pay any invoices.
PackUK also reiterated that it will never issue payment links by email and warned that fraudsters may also attempt to contact producers by phone or post.
Understanding pEPR Payments
The current NoLs are based on packaging data from 2024 and reflect the cost of managing household packaging waste between April 2025 and March 2026. From 2026 onwards, fees under the EPR system will be influenced by the recyclability of packaging, assessed using PackUK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM).
PackUK’s enforcement framework states that producers who fail to meet payment deadlines may face variable monetary penalties. These are calculated as whichever is higher:
- 20% of the outstanding fees, or
- 5% of UK turnover for a single registered entity, or 2% of UK group turnover for organisations registered as a group.
If you think you’ve been targeted by fraud
Producers who are unsure about the authenticity of any communication, or who suspect they may have fallen victim to a scam, are encouraged to contact the EPR support team at eprcustomerservice@defra.gov.uk.
PackUK noted that fraud attempts tend to increase during busy periods, such as when official notices are being sent out, and urged producers to remain vigilant.
