The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan is warning about a recent string of text messages with fake shipping links, designed to gather personal information. Local law enforcement has also been warning the community of this scam.
The text messages provide a tracking number and a link and ask the recipient to click and confirm their order so an item can be shipped. The links lead to fake tracking sites like “itemisinwaiting.com”, but can also spoof real delivery services like USPS and UPS. These fake sites ask you to fill out a form with personal information. In some cases, the scammers ask for additional fees to be paid in order for the package to be shipped.
“Scammers hope you will think the link is related to a recent purchase and will provide personal, sensitive information in an effort to receive your package,” says Lisa Frohnapfel, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan. “You should never click on these links and open your device to potential malware, or compromise your information.”
If you receive such a message:
Don’t act right away. Scammers hope you will immediately click on a fake link or share personal information without thinking the situation through first.
Avoid clicking on links sent to you via text from an unknown sender. This could allow your phone to be compromised by a scammer, or give them access to any personal information saved on your device like usernames and passwords.
Check the delivery site yourself. Visit the delivery site (like UPS or USPS) in a separate browser window and enter the tracking information provided. If the tracking information doesn’t work or doesn’t match tracking requirements, it’s likely a scam.
Check the status of your order. If you are unsure about an order being delivered, visit the site you ordered from directly by entering the website address into your browser and check your order history. Most sites list tracking information as well.
Don’t believe everything you see. Scammers are great at mimicking official seals, fonts, and other details. Just because a website or message looks official does not mean that it is.
Report scams to the Better Business Bureau. Visit bbb.org/scamtracker
