Home Delivery Scams on the Rise

Every year, scammers become more active in attempting to take advantage of people during the holidays. Since more shopping is done online now, scammers have turned their focus to internet users by sending home delivery scams. Depending on the scammer, these scams might look different, but they all want the same thing: personal or financial information from the person receiving them.

Some common variations of this scam include messages claiming the recipient has won a prize, been selected to participate in a survey, or needs to pay customs duty on a package they've ordered. If you think you may have received one of these messages, follow the advice below!

How common are Delivery Scams?

Delivery scams are, unfortunately, on the rise, and people of all ages are being taken advantage of. In 2017 in the UK alone, there were over 19000 reports with an average loss per person recorded at £880! However, using a tool like Guardio can help protect you from these types of dangerous scams. Guardio checks web pages for phishing scams in real-time and will warn you if anything looks fishy.

How do Delivery Scams Work?

Scammers will send an email, SMS, or social media message purporting to be from a well-known company. The message will often include a sense of urgency, promising a prize or delivery if the recipient responds quickly. They may also try to create a sense of legitimacy by having the company's logo or branding in the message.

If you click on any links in the message, you'll be taken to a fake website that looks very similar to the real one. This site is designed to capture your personal and financial information. The scammers can then use this information to commit identity theft or fraud. Some versions of this scam even install malware on your device, which gives the scammers access to your private files and data.

How Do They Get Your Details?

The scammers will use a variety of methods to try and get your personal details. They may:

• Ask you to fill in an online form.
• Send you an email with a link to a fake website.
• Give you a phone number to call, which is actually a premium rate number.
• Direct you to click on a link that downloads malware onto your device.

Run a free security scan in a few clicks

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.

How to Protect Yourself from Delivery Scams

There are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself from these scams:

• Use security tools like guardio extension to keep your computer safe from viruses. This browser extension will alert you if it finds anything harmful on your computer.
• Never click on links in unsolicited messages. If you're unsure about the message, go to the company's website directly and find their contact details. This way, you can confirm whether the message is legitimate or not.
• Be wary of any message that creates a sense of urgency or includes misspellings and grammatical errors. These are often signs that the message is not from a legitimate source.
• Don't enter your personal or financial information into any form on an unknown website. If you think the website may be legitimate, call the company directly to check before entering any information.

What to Do if You've Followed the Link and Downloaded the Malicious App to Your Phone?

If you have followed the link and downloaded the malicious app to your phone or other device, you should:

• Download an anti-malware app and run a scan of your device.
• Change all your passwords.
• Contact your bank or credit card company and let them know what's happened.

In conclusion, delivery scams are on the rise and can be very costly for those who fall victim to them. Following the advice above, you can protect yourself from these scams and keep your personal information safe.

Run a free security scan in a few clicks

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.