Don't fall for this USPS text scam—protect yourself before it's too late!
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As the holiday season ramps up, the excitement of package deliveries is everywhere. But with this comes a warning: fake USPS text scams are on the rise.
These deceptive messages could put your personal and financial information at risk.
The convenience of online shopping has been a game-changer for many of us, particularly during the festive season.
Adobe Analytics reported a staggering $13.3 billion spent on Cyber Monday in 2024, a clear indication of the booming e-commerce industry.
However, this surge in digital transactions has also opened the floodgates for scammers looking to exploit the situation.
Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, using smishing—a blend of SMS and phishing—to impersonate the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and other delivery services.
These fraudulent messages are crafted to create a sense of urgency, often claiming that a package is on hold or that additional payment is required for delivery.
The goal is to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive personal data.
Brian Cute from Global Cyber Alliance warns that these impersonation scams are not only prevalent but also highly effective.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported over 330,000 business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 government impersonation scams in 2023, with losses exceeding $1.1 billion.
As seniors, it's crucial to stay informed and cautious, as we may be particularly targeted by these scams.
Identifying a USPS scam text can be challenging, especially when you're eagerly awaiting a delivery.
Cybersecurity experts advise scrutinizing texts for generic language, a sense of urgency, suspicious links, and requests for personal information.
Remember, the real USPS will never ask for sensitive details like your Social Security number or credit card information via text.
If you've signed up for USPS's Informed Delivery service, you may receive legitimate texts from a short five-digit number (28777).
However, scam texts often come from longer numbers, sometimes with foreign country codes. They may contain grammatical errors, threats, or unusual requests, and the links provided are designed to deceive.
Clicking on a link in a scam text can lead to dire consequences, such as being directed to a phishing website or downloading malware onto your device.
This can result in stolen personal information and unauthorized access to your accounts.
So, what should you do if you receive one of these scam texts?
If you recognize the text as a scam, delete it without responding, as this could mark you as an active target for further scams.
To avoid falling victim to these scams:
Share your experiences and tips for avoiding scams in the comments below, and let's help each other stay safe this holiday season.
These deceptive messages could put your personal and financial information at risk.
The convenience of online shopping has been a game-changer for many of us, particularly during the festive season.
Adobe Analytics reported a staggering $13.3 billion spent on Cyber Monday in 2024, a clear indication of the booming e-commerce industry.
However, this surge in digital transactions has also opened the floodgates for scammers looking to exploit the situation.
Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, using smishing—a blend of SMS and phishing—to impersonate the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and other delivery services.
These fraudulent messages are crafted to create a sense of urgency, often claiming that a package is on hold or that additional payment is required for delivery.
The goal is to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or divulging sensitive personal data.
Brian Cute from Global Cyber Alliance warns that these impersonation scams are not only prevalent but also highly effective.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported over 330,000 business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 government impersonation scams in 2023, with losses exceeding $1.1 billion.
As seniors, it's crucial to stay informed and cautious, as we may be particularly targeted by these scams.
Identifying a USPS scam text can be challenging, especially when you're eagerly awaiting a delivery.
Cybersecurity experts advise scrutinizing texts for generic language, a sense of urgency, suspicious links, and requests for personal information.
Remember, the real USPS will never ask for sensitive details like your Social Security number or credit card information via text.
If you've signed up for USPS's Informed Delivery service, you may receive legitimate texts from a short five-digit number (28777).
However, scam texts often come from longer numbers, sometimes with foreign country codes. They may contain grammatical errors, threats, or unusual requests, and the links provided are designed to deceive.
Clicking on a link in a scam text can lead to dire consequences, such as being directed to a phishing website or downloading malware onto your device.
This can result in stolen personal information and unauthorized access to your accounts.
So, what should you do if you receive one of these scam texts?
First and foremost, adopt a critical mindset.
Verify the legitimacy of the message by checking your email for an official tracking number or contacting the company directly.If you recognize the text as a scam, delete it without responding, as this could mark you as an active target for further scams.
Blocking the number and reporting the scam are also essential steps.
You can forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier, email a screenshot to [email protected] for USPS, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.If you've already clicked on a link, take immediate action to protect yourself.
Disconnect from the internet, run a security scan, change your passwords, monitor your accounts, and report the incident.To avoid falling victim to these scams:
- Be skeptical of unsolicited messages
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Keep your software updated
- Consider changing your phone number if you're frequently targeted.
