Don't Fall for Package Delivery Notification Scam

We all love getting presents and some scammers are taking advantage of that by sending fake package delivery notifications that contain a virus capable of putting your personal and financial information at risk.

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau put out a warning on Thursday with some tips on what to look for and not become a victim.

In a typical case, an email will say that the company made one or more unsuccessful attempts to deliver a package, and that message will contain a link to what is supposed to be an invoice or shipping document. By clicking the link, you will download a virus that can sniff around your computer for personal and financial information.

The Better Business Bureau warns that scammers often impersonate well-known shippers or steal the identities of popular retailers to appear more legitimate.

If you really did miss a delivery, the driver will leave a ticket at your door to arrange for a later delivery or for you to pick up the package.

Tips:

  • Watch for poor spelling or grammatical errors - Fraudulent email is often filled with typos and misspellings because many of them originate in countries where the scammers' knowledge of English is limited.
  • Ignore calls for "immediate action" - The con artists often claim that they have made multiple attempts to contact you and that if you don't act immediately, you will no longer be able to retrieve your package. Scammers create a false sense of urgency in an effort to get their victims to react on an emotional basis and let their guard down.
  • Don't always believe what you see -Just because an email might display a well-known company's logo or appear to come from a reputable source, it doesn't always mean that it's legitimate. Fake email addresses may vary somewhat from the real ones and it's easy for a scammer to copy and paste a company's logo or text into their message.
  • Don't be lured by cleverly-labeled links and attachments ¬-A good rule of thumb is to never click on any links or download files from unfamiliar email addresses. Remember that a hyperlink may not actually lead to where it's claiming to go. By right clicking on it and selecting "copy link address," you can paste the link in a text document to see its true destination.
  • If you are expecting a delivery and are concerned that there might be a legitimate delivery problem, contact the company directly using verifiable contact information, not the information contained in a suspicious email.

What to do if your package disappeared:

  • If you placed an order online, BBB recommends keeping a copy of the order form and tracking number, and following the shipment until its final destination. Here is a checklist to help make sure your package is received by your intended recipients:
  • Insure all packages
  • Require a signature for delivery
  • Have packages delivered to a post office, UPS, FEDEX, or other carrier's facility
  • Ask a friend or neighbor to accept or pick up your packages
  • If allowed, ship packages to your office
  • Let recipients know that a package is on the way and when to expect it to arrive. Follow up to make sure it was received
  • If you think a package was lost or stolen:
  • Make sure that it's not a simple mistake such as the driver leaving the package out of sight
  • Ask a neighbor if they saw the delivery
  • Contact the shipper to verify the items were sent
  • If you believe your package was stolen, file a police report. If there have been numerous such thefts in your area, the police can be on watch to deter thieves.

Get more tips at bbb.org/Connecticut.

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