Smishing Package Delivery Scam

Be cautious when sharing your personal information, especially in a “smishing” scam, where fraudsters send deceptive messages to trick people into revealing sensitive details. This allows them to steal credit card numbers and other personal data.

Even those who are tech-savvy can fall victim to scams, such as fake text messages pretending to be from the Postal Service. These messages may claim that a package can’t be delivered due to an incorrect address, prompting you to take action.

Here’s how it usually unfolds: You’re busy when you get a message. Knowing you have deliveries on the way, you quickly fill out your address and payment details on a website that looks completely legitimate. Only moments later, you realize you might have made a costly mistake.

The USPS offers tips through its website on sniffing out “smishing,” but it all boils down to the basics of don’t click a link you don’t recognize and can’t verify and always be cautious about providing personal information when someone reaches out to you. Hackers send out hundreds of thousands of text messages a day hoping a small percentage of recipients will fall for their scam.