Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. My neighbor was recently scammed by providing credit card information for delivery of a package that did not exist. Please provide information on this type scam?
A. With so many people shopping online, package deliveries are on the rise, doubling since 2010. Scammers, never missing a beat, are taking advantage of this to fool consumers into giving out their personal information.
How the scam works
You receive a call or an email from someone claiming to be your mail carrier or a parcel delivery service saying that they were unable to deliver a package to your home. If you don’t remember ordering anything that needs to be delivered, the caller may try to convince you the package is a gift from a friend or relative. The caller may sound friendly and professional, making the scam harder to spot. The email messages also look legitimate, containing official logos and using professional language.
However, things get suspicious quickly. The caller will ask you to verify personal information or give them your credit card information to reschedule the delivery. Email messages may ask you to click on a tracking link for your mystery package. When you click, you may download malware onto your computer that gives con artists access to any personal information and passwords. No matter the method of contact, the package doesn’t exist. Sharing your personal information puts you at risk for identity theft.