What the Tech: Shipping scams
If you love the holidays, I can promise you scammers love them even more. December is their Super Bowl, and one of the biggest scams this time of year involves fake shipping and delivery alerts. They trick millions of shoppers every season, even people who consider themselves tech-savvy.
These scams work because everyone is waiting for packages. Between Amazon, UPS, FedEx, USPS, Walmart, and every other retailer, most people have at least a few deliveries in the pipeline. That makes it easy for scammers to send a fake text or email at just the right moment.
Here is how the scam usually works. You get a message saying a package is delayed or could not be delivered. There is a link to “track the shipment” or “fix the problem.” At first glance it looks real, but the link does not go to FedEx or UPS. It goes to a lookalike website created by scammers. Some of these emails even hide malware that can install itself with a single click.
Text messages are becoming more common because people react faster on their phones. The FCC has received reports of texts that say a package is waiting to be claimed. Tap the link, and you land on a page that asks you to confirm your identity by entering your address, Amazon login, or even your credit card number. Once you hand over that information, the scammers have everything they need to make their own holiday purchases on your dime.
There is one rule that stops almost every shipping scam. Never sign in through a link sent by text or email. Scammers can copy logos, colors, and tracking pages perfectly. The safest way to check a package is to go directly to Amazon or the official UPS, USPS, or FedEx website and look up the order from inside your account.
Legitimate tracking updates always come from official domains like FedEx.com. Scam links often use strange words, misspellings, or a long string of random characters. If something looks off, trust your instincts.
Parents should also talk to their kids about these scams. The FCC says younger shoppers fall for them more often because they are new to online ordering and tend to click without thinking twice. And the financial damage can be far greater than the item they originally ordered.
The FTC warns that scammers rely on people being in a hurry. With dozens of holiday orders arriving at once, it is easy to let your guard down. Slow down, double-check the link, and protect your deliveries before you click.
