Experts expect more fake delivery texts, often posing as Royal Mail, as Christmas online shopping peaks in November and December.
If you are waiting on a parcel this holiday season, a text saying there is a problem with it may well be a scam. Experts warn that fake delivery messages, often posing as Royal Mail, are likely to rise as people do more Christmas shopping online in November and December.
Earlier this year, it was reported that phishing and impersonation scams had surged. Phishing means a message that tries to trick you into handing over money or personal details. Fraudsters have sent emails and texts posing as HMRC, NatWest and Royal Mail. Now the busiest online shopping months are here, and more people are expecting deliveries.
Azza Kidiwala, an iPhone expert at Techwala, says an expected parcel makes an unexpected text feel believable, because you are already waiting for an update. Her advice is to leave the message alone for a moment, so its urgency does not make the decision for you.
Royal Mail says scam messages often claim there is a problem with your parcel and push you to act fast. Common versions include:
Which? warned in August about fake Royal Mail emails demanding customs charges. The link leads to a site built to steal your personal information. Other red flags include a demand to pay for an unpaid item by text or email, a rushed tone, spelling and grammar mistakes, and few details about your actual parcel. Yorkshire Building Society also urges people to check the phone number on texts claiming to be from a delivery company.
Anyone expecting parcels can be targeted, especially Royal Mail customers and people who shop online using their phone and email. You are in a good position if you always check deliveries by going to the official Royal Mail website yourself, rather than using a link in a message.
The alert box above lists the steps. The main idea is simple: do not use the message's links, and check your parcel through the official site instead. The free reporting service at 7726 is backed by the National Cyber Security Centre.
The material does not say how big the rise will be or how many people have been caught out. It only says the risk is expected to grow while Christmas shopping peaks. Expect these messages to look more convincing the more parcels you have on the way.
Never tap a link in a surprise parcel text. Check your delivery on the official Royal Mail website, then report the message to 7726.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
Read more: Mississippi sheriff warns residents about scam phone callsScammers are posing as Texas sheriff's officers and claiming you missed jury duty. Caller ID can show a real police number even when the call is fake.
Read more: Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone numberFake PayPal emails and texts, some posing as a security report, try to get you to tap a link and type your login. Checking your account directly avoids the trap.
Read more: Got a fake PayPal message? Skip its link and check your account yourself
