...
With the holiday season in full swing, scammers are taking advantage of the increased volume of online shopping to target unsuspecting victims with package delivery scams. These scams can come in the form of text messages, emails, or even phone calls that appear to be from legitimate delivery companies like FedEx, UPS, or USPS.
How Package Delivery Scams Work
Scammers typically use one of two methods to trick victims into revealing their personal information or paying fraudulent fees:
- Typosquatting: Scammers create fake websites that closely resemble the real websites of legitimate delivery companies. These fake websites may have slightly misspelled domain names or URLs, such as “usps.top” instead of “usps.com.” When victims click on the links in these scam messages, they are directed to the fake websites, where they are prompted to enter their personal information or credit card details.
- Fake delivery notifications: Scammers send emails or text messages, or make phone calls that claim to be from a delivery company, informing recipients that there is an issue with their package delivery. The messages may ask recipients to click on a link to reschedule their delivery or pay a processing fee. Clicking on the link can lead to a fake website or a malware download. If a “representative” called you, they may try to get your credit card information or other information that can be used for identity theft.
How to Spot Package Delivery Scams
Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Unsolicited messages: If you receive a message about a package delivery that you were not expecting, it is likely a scam. Legitimate delivery companies will only contact you about a package if you have already placed an order and provided them with your contact information.
- Typos and grammatical errors: Scammers often make typos and grammatical errors in their messages. This is a sign that the message is not from a legitimate company.
- Suspicious links: If the message contains a link, be sure to hover over the link to see the actual URL before clicking on it. If the URL looks suspicious or does not match the URL of the company that the message claims to be from, do not click on it.
- Requests for personal information: Legitimate delivery companies will never ask you to provide your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card details.
How to Protect Yourself
To protect yourself from package delivery scams, follow these tips:
- Be cautious about clicking on links: If you receive a message about a package delivery, do not click on any links unless you are sure that the message is legitimate. Instead, go to the website of the delivery company directly, and enter your tracking number to check the status of your package. Or check order statuses on the sites from which you ordered.
- Never provide personal information in response to a message: Legitimate delivery companies will never ask you to provide personal information in an email or text message. If you receive a message asking for this information, it is a scam.
- Report scams to the authorities: If you believe that you have been the victim of a package delivery scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from package delivery scams and keep your personal information safe.