Keep up with what packages you have on the way, the Grinch is out with a new scam this winter.
The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning on its app last week to beware of holiday scams, most prominently ‘smishing.’
“You get an email or text, and it says you missed the delivery. Or it might say your item can’t be delivered because you need to update your street address or zip code. Sometimes these scammers create a sense of urgency by saying if you don’t respond right away, they’ll return your package to the sender. The scammers say both of these issues can easily be fixed: just click on a link,” is how they describe the scam.
Scammers are counting on the person receiving the text or email to click on the link believing there is an actual problem with a delivery.
During the holidays and with so many packages in the mail, it is a good bet the person has something on the way.
Once the person clicks on the link the perpetrator can use it to load malware onto the computer.
Tips from the sheriff’s office include:
﹣ Don’t click on links in messages about an unexpected delivery. If you get a message about an unexpected package delivery that tells you to click on a link for some reason, don’t click.
﹣ Contact the shipping company directly to get more information. If you think the message might be legitimate, contact the shipping company using a phone number or website you know is real. Don’t use the information in the message.
﹣ Check your order status. If you think the message could be about something you recently ordered, go to the site where you bought the item and look up the shipping and delivery status there.
The notification provided a link to https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/scammers-are-delivering-phishing-messages-holiday-season?utm_source=govdelivery for more information.
The U.S. Post Office provided links for more information and reporting ‘smishing’:
﹣ Visit the United States Postal Inspection Service® smishing page at https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/smishing/ for additional information and reporting steps.
Complaints of non-USPS smishing can also be sent to the following law enforcement partners of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:
﹣ The Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
﹣ The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3) at https://www.ic3.gov/Home/ComplaintChoice