FRAUD AWARENESS
Ding-dong! A New Scam is Out for Delivery.
In our busy, modern world, online shopping and home delivery services are more prevalent than ever. Many of us make purchases that are delivered to our home each month, and keeping track of what item is coming from where can be challenging. Unfortunately, this presents a specific opportunity for crafty scammers looking to prey on consumers who are short on time and eagerly awaiting a delivery. Let’s dive in and learn how to avoid being tricked.
What is a package delivery scam?
A package delivery scam typically appears as a fraudulent message, most often an email or SMS text message, in which a scammer attempts to trick a consumer into thinking there has been a problem with a delivery on route to their home. Often the message will include some urgency in order to trick the recipient into performing an action, such as asking them to click on a malicious link or enter personal information or payment details in an attempt to ‘rectify’ the problem with their order.
Real-life scenario: What could this scam look like?
Millie has a few online orders that she is expecting to receive in the coming days. Because of her husband’s upcoming birthday, she has placed orders with a few retailers which she hopes will arrive before her husband’s big day. A few days after placing the orders, Millie receives an email telling her that a package she has ordered is stuck at Customs and cannot be released until Millie provides some of the order details. The email makes it clear that if Millie does not provide these details, the package will not arrive to her.
Concerned and flustered, Millie clicks the link in the email and is taken to a very convincing webpage for a delivery company asking her to verify the credit card details that were used to purchase the item. If Millie had provided her payment details, she would have been the victim of this scam and likely would have had funds taken from her credit card. The email she had received, and the fraudulent webpage it directed her to, were an attempt to defraud her.
How can this type of scam be avoided?
If you receive an email or text message urgently requesting action in order to fix a problem and receive a package or delivery, be suspicious. Never follow any links or use contact information provided in the message. Instead, go to the legitimate website you had placed the order through to check the status of your delivery, or visit the website for the delivery service (such as Canada Post or Purolator) to check using the tracking number you were provided with when you made the purchase. Always verify problems with your order outside of the suspicious texts or emails and contact the store directly using their official phone number if you have further concerns.
Remember, scams like this are becoming more common and rely on consumers being too busy to investigate properly. Slow down, think critically, and visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for helpful tips you can use to avoid this and other scams.
