Recently there have been reports of package scams where a person receives a message that looks like it’s from a legitimate parcel service like UPS, FedEx, or even the United States Postal Service (USPS), but in reality, it’s a scam designed to steal your personal information.
These fraudulent messages typically arrive via email or text message. The messages may look authentic by using official titles, a logo, or branding that looks very similar to the real thing. The message may claim to need additional information in order to deliver a package and the recipient may be asked to click a hyperlink that could install infectious malware on their device, or it may ask for personal information like a Social Security number, address, or bank account information.
Legitimate parcel services will not request personal information, financial information, account numbers, IDs, passwords, or other personal information. If you receive a message that asks for these details, it’s a scam.
If you receive a suspicious message, you should report it to the actual organization immediately. You can also report the email or phone number through your service provider. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, contact local law enforcement and then report it to your financial institutions. You may want to consider freezing your credit by calling the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
