Smishing Scams On The Rise! Be Careful Good People

 

Scams are all over the place these days, be careful out there ladies and gentleman. It is not a far fetched idea that specifically melanated people are being targeted. 

Attention! Beware of a crafty new scam making its rounds – smishing! Have you ever received a text message from an unfamiliar number claiming to be related to a USPS delivery? If you didn't sign up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, resist the urge to click on that suspicious link! Allow me to shed some light on this concerning issue.

Smishing, a deceptive blend of SMS and phishing, preys on unsuspecting victims via text messages or phone calls. Scammers send cleverly crafted messages, often posing as a reputable entity like a government agency, a bank, or a well-known company, to trick you into sharing your personal or financial information.

Their modus operandi involves luring you into providing sensitive data such as account credentials, Social Security numbers, birth dates, credit and debit card details, PINs, or other personally identifiable information (PII). Once they have this data, they can unleash financial fraud and other nefarious activities.

The scammers may use 5-digit shortcodes, which USPS genuinely uses to communicate with customers via SMS but be cautious. USPS will never send you unsolicited text messages or emails without you first initiating the tracking request with a specific tracking number. So, if you didn't create such a request directly with USPS and receive a text with a link, don't be fooled – avoid clicking it at all costs!

To ensure the safety of your data and finances, always remember that USPS offers legitimate, free tools for tracking packages. To access these services, you must register online or initiate a text message with the provided tracking number. Anything beyond that could be a potential scam.

If you are suspicious of a text message, especially expecting a parcel, restrain yourself from clicking any links. Instead, report the news and visit USPS.com directly from your mobile device or computer for legitimate tracking and additional resources.

Be proactive to combat this smishing menace and protect yourself and others from falling victim to consumer fraud. Please familiarize yourself with USPS's TEXT TRACKING FAQs at https://www.usps.com/text-tracking/welcome.htm, and don't forget to visit our fraud prevention page at www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-fraud/.

In case you encounter any USPS-related smishing attempts, please report them immediately. Forward the suspicious message to spam@uspis.gov without clicking on any links. In the email, copy the content of the message and provide your name. Attach a screenshot displaying the sender's phone number and the date sent. Any additional relevant details, like whether you clicked the link, lost money, shared personal information, or suffered any impact on your credit or personal life, should also be included. The Postal Inspection Service will contact you if they need more information.

You can also help fight against smishing by forwarding the smishing message to 7726. This will aid in reporting the scam phone number, making it harder for scammers to continue their fraudulent operations.

Even if the smishing attempts seem unrelated to USPS, you can still make a difference by sending complaints to law enforcement partners of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, including the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3) at https://www.ic3.gov/complaint.

Let's all be vigilant and stay one step ahead of these deceitful scammers. Please spread the word about smishing; we can create a safer digital world together! Remember, the power to protect yourself, and others lies in your hands – or your fingertips!

 

Reference

 

Smishing: package tracking text scams – United States Postal Inspection Service. (2023, March 14). https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing-package-tracking-text-scams