USPS Urgent Warning About Targeted Phishing Scam in Arizona

USPS Urgent Scam Warning

I was having lunch with a friend the other day. Halfway through our meal, she got a text message. She paused our conversation and frowned at her phone. 

"I didn't order anything from Amazon," she said. "Why would I get this message from the post office saying my package was delayed?"

She seemed baffled, then decided her husband must have ordered something. She was about to click the link when I stopped her.

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"No! Don't click the link," I said quickly. We did a quick internet search. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, this is a common scam that happens all the time in Arizona.

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USPS Warning: Fake Package Text Messages

Most of us are wise to email and text messaging scams. Is anyone sending money to a fake Nigerian Prince anymore? (Surprisingly, the answer is "yes." Sadly, this classic still works.)

That scam is almost as old as the Internet and email, and scammers never rest. Once they find something that works, they'll cast a wide net and keep pushing it out. When it stops working, they come up with new methods to pick your pocket digitally.

An unsolicited SMS text, also known as a smishing message, is a popular scam making the rounds again. The message appears to come from the United States Post Office, UPS, or FedEx.

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The text warns of a missed package delivery and provides a "convenient" link where you can resolve the "problem."

Why Do Smishing Messages Work?

My friend did one thing right: she questioned the text message.

She knew she hadn't ordered anything recently, but then talked herself out of it, figuring her spouse must have ordered something.

According to Reader's Digest, we usually answer a text message within three minutes of receiving it. That's lightning fast, considering email is much slower these days. Most email messages are dumped into a spam folder and never even opened.

This is how scammers trick their victims with Smishing:

• No company name is included in the text message. It might say, "There's a delivery error with your package."
• Scammers use a short link, like bit.ly, to disguise the real URL of their website.
• The text creates a sense of urgency, which takes victims off guard. Language like "Act fast to resolve this matter" compels us to do something now.

How did the company get your phone number, you might ask? And how do they know whether or not I ordered a package?

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Actually, they don't know. They send a lot of messages to random numbers; other times, they buy lists and push out messages that way.

Scammers cast a wide net, and sooner or later, the message will make sense to someone and snare an individual who actually DID order a package. And that person may click the link.

So, if you did order a package and think there may be something wrong, always go to the website where you ordered it and check the delivery information yourself.

If you think you've been the victim of a scam, you can forward the fraudulent email or text message to the Postal Inspection Service at spam@uspis.gov or call 1-877-876-2455 to make a report.

Sources: USPS Scams | Newsweek | United States Postal Inspection Service | Reader's Digest | Wikipedia