Since the pandemic began, consumers are shopping less in brick and mortar stores and buying more online. That means that our email boxes are often full of delivery notices. And, we may not always remember exactly what we ordered or from where. Scammers are taking advantage of this with a new kind of fraud.
In the package delivery scam, victims receive a text message, email or phone call letting them know that there is a package coming for them and they need to provide delivery or payment information. When the consumer clicks on the link in the message they are asked for credit card information or malware is loaded on their device.
HowToGeek.com investigated one such message by clicking on the link to see what the scammers were up to. (Note: They are professionals. Don’t try this at home. You should never click on a suspicious link in a message.) They were taken to a page they identified as an obviously fake Amazon listing where they were asked to take a survey.
As a thank you for completing the survey, the victim has the opportunity to claim a “free” gift. They are then asked to provide their credit card information to pay a shipping and handling fee. In the small print it is revealed that the victim is also signing up for a 14-day trial of the “free” product. After the trial period a new supply will be sent for a monthly charge of $98.95.
Other scam messages may not come with a monthly fee, but instead ask the consumer to provide their credit card information in order to pay a delivery fee to reschedule delivery of their package. Of course, there is no package, but they have now given their credit card information to a scammer, and that never ends well.
To avoid being victimized by the package delivery scam, the Better Business Bureau recommends that you:
- Do not trust unsolicited messages. If a package cannot be delivered the delivery service will typically leave a note on your door with instructions on how to arrange for redelivery.
- Track your packages. You may be ordering more items online these days, but keep track of your online purchases and when delivery is expected. Use the tracking numbers to know when each package is due. When you know what you are expecting and when, it will be harder for a scammer to fool you.
- Never give your personal information to strangers. Whether they are calling or texting, do not give personal information to an unsolicited caller. If you believe the request may be genuine, hang up, look up the official customer service number of the company and call them directly. Even when the caller is friendly, always use caution when you are asked for personal information.
- Never click on links in unsolicited emails. They may appear to come from Amazon or other trustworthy companies, but crooks can easily spoof emails and make them look legitimate. Links in emails can download malware onto your computer or can take you to a phishing site where you will be asked for your personal information.
Don’t let your guard down. Holiday season is prime season for online scammers.
