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BBB warning: Be careful clicking on shipment texts - it could be a scam!

Submitted

Wed, Nov 11th 2020 02:25 pm

By the Better Business Bureau

This year, more people will be doing their holiday shopping online than ever before. We know package theft is a problem, but now, so is the latest scam hitting people's smartphones: fake shipping texts. Better Business Bureau wants everyone to know what these fake texts look like so they aren't tempted to click on them.

Examples that are coming into BBB's Scam Tracker include spoofing shipping company names, telling the recipients that they have old packages to claim and to schedule a drop-off by clicking the link. Check out an example here.

Another iteration tells you your package shipped and to click to check on it using the FedEx name.

This one, sent from "USPS" tells the recipients that there's an important notice about an old package. 

Clicking the link either takes you to a form that asks for personally identifying information, or to a site that downloads malware onto your computer.

Avoid clicking on the tracking link; go to the shipper's website and type in the code to see if it is real.

If you receive a text like this, BBB has tips to spot a fake:

1. You haven't ordered anything recently. Always keep track of your receipts for online retailers and shipping information handy. 

2. Read the fine print when you purchase items online. You may not know it, but you may have signed up for text alerts from the retailer. Check the retailer's website to see if text correspondences are part of their outreach. 

3. Don't click on anything. Go to the shipper's website to see if the tracking number is real. For more resources on shipping fraud, see FedEx's website and UPS's online resource center

4. Report it. You can report these scams to BBB's Scam Tracker. 

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