How to Avoid Package Scams

These days, most of us shop online, enjoying the convenience of having items delivered right to our door. Package scammers know this and take advantage of it. They are now the third most common type of text scam reported to the Federal Trade Commission, following fake bank texts and messages offering bogus gifts or prizes.

What Are Package Delivery Scams?

Package scammers usually want to steal either your money or your personal identity, and they can be crafty.
 
They might contact you by text or email, pretending to be a trusted shipper such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon, perhaps alerting you to a problem with your delivery. The message may look trustworthy and legitimate.
 
You, of course, want to resolve any issues with your shipment. That’s what the scammers are counting on. They’ll ask you to contact them and, before you know it, they’ve convinced you to send them money or your personal information.

Common Package Delivery Scams

Package fraudsters have all kinds of tricks up their sleeve. These are the most common package delivery scams:
 
Phishing
You might receive a “phishing” email or text message – basically a fake message – that seems to be from a delivery company you trust. It might include a tracking number and explain that your delivery driver missed you or that your package was headed to the wrong address. You’re then asked to click on a link to resolve the problem.
 
When you follow the link, you’re asked for your personal information, so the scammers can steal your identity. Or the link might take you to a website that downloads malware to your device, so they can steal your data.
 
“Missed delivery” door tag scams
In this type of phishing scam, criminals leave a fake delivery tag on your front door that looks like it’s from a delivery company like FedEx or Amazon. It says that your delivery driver missed you and provides a phone number that you can call to get your package delivered. When you call, the scammer asks for your personal information.
 
Brushing
You receive an unexpected package – or several packages – from Amazon or another retailer. You didn’t order anything, and when you mention the delivery to friends and family, you find that none of them sent the items.
 
It might be exciting to get free stuff, but don’t celebrate just yet. You’ve likely gotten looped into a scam called brushing. Scammers, usually overseas, send you items and then write online product reviews in your name. Why? To help promote an online shop. (Amazon package scams, for example, are run by third-party sellers who sell products on Amazon.)
 
If you receive a package as part of a brushing scam, it means fraudsters have your personal information, such as your name, address and phone number. That means they can use it for other scams. They might, for example, open new accounts in your name.
 
Porch Piracy
Much like pirates who travel the seas to steal jewels and other valuables, porch pirates swipe packages left on people’s porches or doorsteps.

How to Spot a Package Delivery Scam

Package scammers can be convincing, but they often leave tell-tale signs that you’re in danger of being scammed. Protect yourself by keeping an eye out for:

• Requests for money. Be skeptical if a delivery carrier asks for money in order to deliver your package. But legitimate delivery companies don’t suddenly contact you to charge extra fees. Scammers often convey a sense of urgency, pressuring you to pay up now in order to get your package.
• Requests for personal information. A delivery company shouldn’t need your personal information to complete a delivery.
• Emails, texts or websites with misspellings and other mistakes. If you receive a text with errors or a link to, for example, “Fedx.com” or “USPS.gov” (instead of FedEx.com or USPS.com), it’s from a scammer.
• Unsecured links. Avoid clicking on any links in suspicious emails or texts. If you do click on a link and receive a warning that the link isn’t secure, don’t proceed. As a rule of thumb, links that begin with “https” are more secure than those starting with “http.”
• Delivery tags requesting a phone call. If you find a delivery tag on your front door that instructs you to call the delivery company, don’t call the phone number on the tag. Instead, look up the company’s official phone number online.

 
The bottom line: if you get an unexpected notice about a delivery, never click on any links or call the phone number provided. Instead, contact the delivery company directly using their official phone number.

Beware a Holiday Spike

Package scams happen throughout the year but are especially prevalent during the holiday season, according to the Better Business Bureau.

Report Package Scams

When package scams happen, it’s important to report them. This will protect you and, moving forward, will help safeguard others too.
 
If you’ve been the victim of a delivery scam, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. You might also report it to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker, to help raise consumer awareness of the scam.
 
If you gave a scammer sensitive personal information like your social security number, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Then if your identity is stolen, you can visit the FTC’s website to create a personal recovery plan. The website guides you through the process, step by step, providing any forms you need to fill out. After you file a complaint with the FTC, for example, you can create an identity theft report, which serves as proof to businesses that your identity was stolen, making it easier to resolve problems.
 
You should also contact the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – to place a fraud alert on your account. That way, if someone tries to get credit in your name, you’ll get an alert.
 
If you shared any financial information with the scammer, report the incident to your bank. They’ll help you protect your account moving forward. If you lost money in the scam, your bank may refund it, depending on the situation.
 
If you received an unwanted package from a retailer (like Amazon), contact the retailer directly. Some popular online retailers have specific forms to report unwanted packages.
 

 
This article was created in accordance with the Patelco editorial policy.