With the COVID-19 pandemic changing how millions of American consumers shop, and online sales skyrocketing thanks to concerns about the health risks of shopping in brick and mortar stores. The delivery vans are buzzing around neighborhoods as never before, scammers are looking to capitalize on this trend.
Scammers are increasing their use of the fake package deliveries. In a typical scam of this type, consumers receive a text message, email,or phone call informing them that they have a package waiting for them or that the delivery service (e.g., FedEx, UPS,or USPS) was unable to deliver a package.
To get the package delivered, the consumer is asked to click on a link and “verify” personal information or supply payment information (like a credit card or bankrouting number) to reschedule the delivery. In other cases, the scammers’ messages may direct recipients to an authentic-looking website. Consumers who fall for this scam can end up inadvertently signing up for difficult-to-cancel subscription services.
These delivery messages can be pretty convincing — but they are fake and generated by scammers trying to extract valuable information from consumers. As consumers come to rely more on e-commerce for day-to-day needs, they may be more likely to assume these messages are legitimate.
Here are the steps you can take to reduce your risk: