FactFinder: Don’t fall for fake delivery scam messages

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Many online shoppers waiting for their packages to come in are receiving fake shipping texts and emails.

It is a type of smishing scam that the United States Postal Inspection Service warns about year-round, but is more common during the holidays.

The messages claim to be from the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, or other delivery services stating that a package couldn’t be delivered because of incorrect information such as an address. It also provides a link to click on to update your personal information so that the package can come in.

Scammers are looking to capitalize on shoppers who recently purchased an item online and are waiting for it to arrive to believe the text they received is real.

The scam texts are seeking personal information such as date of birth, Social Security numbers and information.

“All this is as a ploy to establish you as a hot lead,” said Josh Planos with the Better Business Bureau. “This is the opportunity for a scammer to know that you are willing to engage with your device and willing to engage with the communication that is unsolicited.”

Shoppers are advised to not click on the link, ignore the texts and block the number that sent it. However, if you happen to click the link, the BBB warns that the scam could malware to the device, ask for personal information or request a payment to be made.

The BBB says responding to the text or email could lead to that person getting more scam messages in the future.

Planos suggests that if shoppers are waiting for their order to arrive to go back on the website they shopped from like Amazon or Target and view recent orders to track the status of the delivery.