If the first few months of this year are any indication, people are still spending, despite economic challenges. The National Retail Federation says retail sales were up 4.2% year over year for the first five months of 2023.
All that merchandise being bought and sold isn’t lost on scammers and with online and with other non-store sales also up year over year, delivery scams are just as popular as ever. But that doesn’t mean you need to fall victim to one. Here’s how to spot them — and steer clear.
Be wary of delivery scam texts
To protect your box from getting swiped off your doorstep, you might sign up for text alerts about your order and get a tracking link to keep tabs on your package. For most people, things go off without a hitch.
But scammers know you’re probably expecting a delivery and, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service, send false texts about your package. These messages may mention something about “updating your information” and include a fake tracking link. Clicking that link takes you to a site where you upload personal information, thinking it goes to a legitimate delivery and logistics company. In reality, scammers can now download malware onto your phone or computer.
These fake texts vary. “Sorry we missed you” is a common one, complete with a note urging you to click a link to update your delivery preferences. If you receive a text from an unknown source with a link, never click it — it’s probably a scam. If you’re concerned, check the website you ordered from directly to find out the status of your package.
How to spot a parcel delivery scam text
How can you tell if a shipping site is fake? Be on the lookout for small changes in the name spelling, says the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for example, “fedx.com” or “fed-ex.com” closely resemble the legitimate site fedex.com, and these tricky spellings and messages make you think you’re dealing with the real company.
Protect yourself from parcel theft
Nearly one in four people has fallen victim to porch piracy in the last year, according to a report from Security.org, a home safety product review company. If you live in an apartment building, your packages can easily get scooped up right in front of your door. And without a front door security camera, it’s hard to track this kind of theft because there’s no way to see who did it — A neighbor? Someone following a delivery truck? — or know when it happened.
Tips to avoid packages being stolen
If you’re worried about parcel theft, request that yours require a signature. It might come with an extra fee but it could be worth it, especially on a pricey order. Another option is to schedule your delivery to arrive when you’re home. With text alerts letting you know when a package is near, you may also be able to leave work and swing by your place to meet the delivery truck as well. If you’re not familiar with the company shipping your item, check out reviews online to see other people’s experience with them.
Seller scams are growing
Even on a legitimate website, scams abound. It can happen on Facebook Marketplace or other secondhand sellers, and also creator sites like Etsy and Instagram. There are plenty of legitimate sales that happen through these sites, but with millions of users, they are also prone to scammers. Once you make a purchase with your credit card, the scammer gets your financial information, even if the item never arrives.
Minimize your exposure to seller scams
You can try to avoid this by checking out a seller’s history. How many previous sales have there been? What is the customer rating? Are there reviews by previous buyers? Read creator or shop information to learn more about the owner. You might even check to see if they are on social media.
If the account was recently created or doesn’t have many sales (or any at all), approach with caution. If you can’t find any evidence that a company exists beyond the very limited business page that you’re on, it can be a red flag.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you make a purchase that never arrives or have reason to believe your credit card is compromised, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Contact your bank or credit card issuer to let them know about the fraudulent charge to stop payment.
Report the account to Etsy, Facebook, Amazon, or wherever the shop exists. The process to get your money back might not be immediate, but in the meantime, you can stop others from falling victim to the same parcel delivery scam.
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