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Fake parcel delivery texts are the fastest-growing phishing scam this holiday season – here’s how to avoid them
- Fake parcel delivery alerts sent by text are the fastest-growing phishing scam this festive season, according to UK bank NatWest.
- Fraudulent messages claim to come from courier services stating that delivery has been attempted and needs to be rescheduled, prompting a link.
- The embedded link leads to a phishing website that looks legitimate which prompts payment for redelivery and asks for personal details including login credentials or credit card information.
- FedEx, DHL and UPS are commonly impersonated, fooling people who regularly receive delivery alerts and making SMS messages easy to fake as they contain fewer words and lack a logo.
- The scam creates a sense of urgency and relies on emotional manipulation because packages may contain gifts for loved ones during the festive season.
- Fraud expert, Stuart Skinner from NatWest recommends people to stop, think and check before clicking on any link.
- Look for tell-tale signs such as urgent requests for personal information and inconsistencies in the message.
- Courier services recommend going directly to their website to check tracking numbers rather than submitting personal or financial information through unsolicited emails, texts or mails.
- People who are unsure about the validity of messages are advised to not click on any links for redelivery or report suspicious messages.
- This scam is particularly effective during the festive season, not just because of the high volume of expected deliveries but also because people are more vulnerable to emotional manipulation.
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