These schemes are aimed at stealing personal information
of ConsumerAffairs
Over the next few weeks, millions will place online orders for holiday gifts. So expect to see more instances of the delayed delivery scam.
It usually works this way: The target receives a message usually a text informing them that a package they ordered cant be delivered because the U.S. Postal Service doesnt have enough information about them.
The target is directed to click on a link and provide the information. The missing information includes a lot more than an address. It may include requests for full names, birthdays and other information a delivery service does not need.
Your data will be sold on the dark web, and together with other information about you thats been stolen or purchased, someone might be able to steal your identity.
These smishing scams occur all year round and really kicked into overdrive during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a surge in online ordering. The holiday season is another time when a target can easily become a victim.
Red flags
These scams are easy to spot if you take a moment to think and ask yourself a couple of questions:
-
Why is it that the U.S. Postal Service is having trouble delivering a package when they deliver mail to my house six days a week?
-
How does the U.S. Postal Service have my cellphone number when they dont have my address?
The fact is, targets are selected at random from millions of cellphone numbers. The scammer is playing the odds, assuming that many of the people receiving the message are expecting a package delivery. The odds are better around the holidays.
Sometimes the delayed delivery message will come in the form of an email. In that case, pay close attention to the URL.
Even if the body of the message displays the Postal Service logo it could be fake. If the domain is anything but a usps.com address, the message is from a scammer.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2024-11-18 15:56:14
