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How to Avoid Delivery and Shipping Scams

How to Avoid Delivery and Shipping Scams

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Protect yourself from delivery and shipping scams by following these simple tips. Learn how to identify suspicious emails and texts, use secure payment methods, be wary of unfamiliar websites, check seller ratings and reviews, keep your personal information private, track your package, and report suspicious activity.
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Protect yourself from delivery and shipping scams by following these simple tips. Learn how to identify suspicious emails and texts, use secure payment methods, be wary of unfamiliar websites, check seller ratings and reviews, keep your personal information private, track your package, and report suspicious activity.

Key Takeaways

  • Watch for Unexpected Delivery Messages: If you get a text or email about a package you weren’t expecting, it could be a scam trying to trick you.
  • Don’t Click Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on links in delivery messages, go directly to the official carrier’s website to check tracking info.
  • Stick to Secure Payments: If asked to pay extra fees, use credit cards or trusted payment services. Never send cash or wire money.
  • Double-Check Websites: Make sure you’re on the real shipping company’s site before entering any personal info.
  • Report It if Something Feels Off: If you think you were targeted by a scam, report it to authorities like the FTC.
  • Are you constantly bombarded with emails about package deliveries that you didn't expect? These emails might be a scam. Package delivery scams are a type of phishing attack that attempts to trick you into giving away your personal information or login credentials. Here's what you need to know about package delivery scams and how to protect yourself from them.

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    What is a Package Delivery Scam?

    A package delivery scam is a type of phishing attack that involves sending fake emails or texts that appear to be from a legitimate shipping company, such as FedEx, DHL, UPS, or the U.S. Postal Service. These emails or texts may claim that there is a problem with your package delivery, or that you need to take action to receive your package.However, the goal of these scams is not to deliver a package to you. Instead, the scammers are attempting to trick you into clicking on a link in the email or text, which may take you to a fake website that looks like the real thing. Once you're on the fake website, the scammers may try to steal your personal information or login credentials.

    Fake DHL website

    How Do Package Delivery Scams Work?

    Package delivery scams typically involve sending fake emails or texts that contain a link to a fake website. The emails or texts may claim that there is a problem with your package delivery, or that you need to take action to receive your package. For example, the email or text may say that you need to pay an additional fee to receive your package, or that you need to confirm your delivery address.When you click on the link in the email or text, it may take you to a fake website that looks like the website of a legitimate shipping company. The fake website may ask you to enter your personal information or login credentials, such as your name, address, email address, and password.Once you enter your information, the scammers may use it to steal your identity, access your accounts, or send more spam emails to other people.

    How Can You Protect Yourself From Package Delivery Scams?

    There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from package delivery scams:1.  Be cautious of unexpected emails or texts about package deliveries. If you didn't expect a package, be suspicious of any emails or texts that claim there is a problem with the delivery.

    1. Don't click on links in suspicious emails or texts. If you receive an email or text about a package delivery that you didn't expect, don't click on any links in the message. Instead, go to the website of the legitimate shipping company directly to track your package.
    2. Use a secure payment method. If you are asked to pay a fee to receive your package, don't send cash or use a wire transfer service. Instead, use a credit card or a payment service like PayPal that offers buyer protection.
    3. Be wary of unfamiliar websites. If you receive an email or text about a package delivery and decide to track your package online, be cautious of unfamiliar websites. Make sure the website you are on is the official website of the shipping company.
    4. Keep your personal information private. Don't give out your personal or financial information to strangers or unfamiliar websites.
    5. Report suspicious activity. If you suspect that you've been the victim of a package delivery scam, report it to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States.

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    Conclusion

    Package delivery scams are a type of phishing attack that attempts to trick you into giving away your personal information or login credentials. To protect yourself from these scams, be cautious of unexpected emails or texts about package deliveries, don't click on links in suspicious messages, use Guardio for full online protection.

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    Make sure you have a personal safety plan in place. If you believe someone is stalking you online and may be putting you at risk of harm, don’t remove suspicious apps or confront the stalker without a plan. The Coalition Against Stalkerware provides a list of resources for anyone dealing with online stalking, monitoring, and harassment.

    Guardio Security Team
    Guardio’s Security Team researches and exposes cyber threats, keeping millions of users safe online. Their findings have been featured by Fox News, The Washington Post, Bleeping Computer, and The Hacker News, making the web safer — one threat at a time.
    Tips from the expert

    Pro Tip: Don’t Let “Delivery” Emails Hijack Your Calendar

    Some scammers are now sneaking fake delivery notices into your digital calendar to look more legitimate. Here's how to stop it before it gets weird:

    1. Check your calendar permissions: Go to your calendar settings and turn off the option that auto-adds invites from people you don’t know.
    2. Watch for sketchy invites: If you see a calendar event with a delivery update, link, or demand for payment, and you didn’t expect it, delete it immediately.
    3. Report spam invites: Platforms like Google Calendar let you report invites as spam to avoid more in the future.

    These scam invites bypass your inbox and go straight to your daily plans. Don’t let them sneak in without your say-so.

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