USPS Scams: Beware These Fake Delivery Notification Emails & Texts
Author: Trend Micro
This article is from Trend Micro
Have you seen emails or text messages from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that claim you have to pay duties and taxes for your package? Calm down — and think twice before you hit the “Review the package” button!
How USPS Delivery Scams Work
Circulating via emails and text messages, USPS delivery phishing scams have been quite common in recent years.
Posing as the USPS, scammers send a fake delivery notification to you , claiming that you’ve missed the delivery of a package or that you have to pay a delivery fee to get the package. These notifications always contain a phishing link that the scammers want you to click on. Here are some examples:
Fake USPS email. Source: Reddit
Fake USPS text message. Source: Reddit
The button prompts direct you to phishing sites where scammers can collect your sensitive data. The phishing links will often lead you to fake online survey pages that say you can claim a reward by completing an online questionnaire. After you fill out the survey, you are prompted to enter personal credentials, such as credit card numbers.
In other instances, the links take you to fake log-in pages impersonating the USPS. These pages require you to submit login credentials to view your delivery status, change your settings — or whatever else the scammers have in store for you.
No matter which pages you end up on, scammers can gain access to all the data you enter and use it for cybercrime such as hacking into your bank account or even identity theft!
How to Protect Yourself
- Double-check the sender’s email address.
- Reach out directly to the USPS’s official website for help if you think there are issues with your package.
- NEVER use links or buttons from unknown sources! Use Trend Micro Check to detect scams with ease: Trend Micro Check is an all-in-one browser extension and mobile app for detecting scams, phishing attacks, malware, and dangerous links — and it’s FREE!
After you’ve pinned the Trend Micro Check extension, it will block dangerous sites automatically! (Available on Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge).
You can also download the Trend Micro Check mobile app for 24/7 automatic scam and spam detection and filtering. (Available for Android and iOS).
Check out this page for more information on Trend Micro Check.
As ever, if you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please do SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected.
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