Police have warned people to be on their guard if bank cards do not arrive on time.
In the last few weeks there have been reports of four stolen cards being used to run up bills in the Crawley and Horsham areas.
In one case a Crawley man discovered £2,100 had been spent on his debit card, which had been sent to him but never arrived.
A credit card sent to a Crawley woman did not arrive and she discovered it had been used to run up bills totally £560 in supermarkets, a sports shop and an Indian restaurant.
Another credit card was used for a £10 bill and checks are still being made on what may have been bought with a debit card sent to a Crawley woman but not received.
A police spokesman advised anyone expecting a card which did not arrive to contact their bank.
He said: "If the plastic has been dispatched then do not write it off as one of those things but let the bank know and contact the police."
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