Watch out for fake delivery scam during holidays

One scam to look out for this holiday season is phony “delivery failure notification” texts or emails. It might appear to be sent by a real delivery company, like the U.S. Postal Service or a carrier like Amazon, but it’s not.

Many of these scams start with a text or email about delivering a package to a person’s address. These messages often include a “tracking link” that person is urged to click in order to update their delivery or payment preferences. This message may also be accompanied by a voicemail message with a call-back number.

While these messages often look or sound legitimate, people should never click a link or call back the number from an unexpected delivery notice. Instead, contact the delivery service or seller directly using a verified number or website. In some cases, a link may open a website that asks for personal information, or it may install malware on a person’s phone or computer that can secretly steal personal information. In others, the call-back number may be answered by a scam “operator” asking for account information or the credit card number used for purchase.

Remember that if something doesn’t seem right, it’s always a safe choice to hang up or walk away. For more information on scams, visit consumer.ftc.gov.