The text scam is a phishing scheme that sends fake messages claiming there is a problem with delivering a package.

The United States Postal Service is warning of a scam involving text messages that ask for information in order for a package to be delivered.

  • seaQueue@lemmy.world
    66·
    1 year ago

    They’re only like 18mo late on this one. So far I’ve seen USPS, FedEx, DHL and UPS flavors of this scam.

    • TrashMeNot@lemmy.world
      17·
      1 year ago

      I love how mine would get progressively more broken in English. Each day a new text with a new link. Thankfully they gave up after a week.

      • Hotzilla@sopuli.xyz
        10·
        1 year ago

        There is probably a reason for this, the carriers start blocking these, so they have to break the words so they bypass those blocks.

        We had these in Finland two years ago, it originates probably from Russia, so we are their sandbox for these kind of cyber shit. Our carriers found out some way to block them and they are not anymore happening. One day our cyber security center just informed that they have co-operated with carriers to block them permanently. I believe the technique is not made public.

        Edit: did some digging, so it was keyword based blocking in the network + Europol raided the servers which commanded the malware

  • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    211·
    1 year ago

    I’ve gotten like 4 of these, and it’s honestly surprising to me that anyone with more than a dozen brain cells falls for these scams, since they’re comically obvious.

    So yeah I guess that actually accounts for like a good third or so of the country.

    • Fapper_McFapper@lemmy.world
      71·
      1 year ago

      They know that there will be a certain number of the population that will see these attempts as obvious. Those texts aren’t meant for us. They’re meant for the elderly and less savvy.

    • Oneobi@lemmy.world
      5·
      1 year ago

      Well, you say that but coincidentally I was expecting a parcel from a courier and received a well crafted text saying that delivery attempt failed.

      It’s easy to fall into a trap like this. It was only when I paused wondering why are they asking for my address did I realise its a scam.

      It was sent at 8:30, right during personal rush hour time.

      • greenskye@lemm.eeEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        Same thing happened to my wife. It was perfect timing with an actual expected package that missed delivery. Send out enough of these and you’re bound to get a few hits from people in the exact scenario you’re scamming for.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
        5·
        1 year ago

        Same here. My teen ordered something that was supposed to arrive this coming weekend. However it arrived early by USPS and the first I learned about it was when he got that scam text. I told him it looked like a scam, but I checked the real tracking number and the package was delivered.

        I wonder if they have a data source for real deliveries to target - the online store did use some third party tracker that I accidentally clicked on before going to USPS

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        31·
        1 year ago

        Honestly, this is just an unfortunate artifact of the ubiquitous nature of technology these days, and the fact that most people don’t think too hard about what’s actually happening or how this crazy amalgamation of information and services operates, and simply consider it “convenient magic”.

  • SolNine@lemmy.ml
    12·
    1 year ago

    I’ve been getting these for ages now… UPS, USPS, endless scam texts all the time!

  • stown@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    1 year ago

    Please forward these text messages to spam@uspis.gov to help get the scam websites taken down and spam numbers blocked. Yes, you can send text messages directly to email addresses.

  • bgb_ca@lemmy.ca
    10·
    1 year ago

    Not only USPS. I got one today from “Canada posts” from a UK number. (I’m in Canada btw).

  • Branch_Ranch@lemmy.world
    10·
    1 year ago

    Ive been getting these texts everyday for the past couple weeks. Always from a different overseas #. I always block and delete, but its still happening.

    • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
      2·
      1 year ago

      Waste their time by engaging but giving fake information. I mentioned this in another comment, but the volume of scam shit I get went down after I started engaging with it and making them filter me out rather than me filtering myself out like the scams are intended to do.

  • Scott@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    51·
    1 year ago

    I’ve got like 10 in the last week. Every single one has got an “eat my asshole” response.

      • username_unavailable@lemmy.world
        31·
        1 year ago

        I don’t know but he’s making it a more valuable resource. He is letting the spammers charge more for his number when they resell it since it’s verified.

      • SadTrain@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        Hell, I was looking at the spam filter on Messages and accidentally opened one. It was sent as an RCS message and I was worried I’d be flagged and spammed more because of the Read receipt.

      • Scott@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        At the same time it also costs them a penny each time I send them one, might just start sending images and costing them more instead.

        I’ve also worked with SMS APIs and roughly know the costs from provider to provider.

    • stown@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      You should also forward each message to spam@uspis.gov (yes, you can text to email addresses) if you want to help take down the scam sites and get the numbers blocked.

  • merthyr1831@lemmy.world
    4·
    1 year ago

    these have been all over the UK for years. ngl first time i saw one i almost fell for it since i actually did have an order due

    • Salamendacious@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      That’s what they’re counting on. You’ll glance at it and in a single moment make a bad decision that exposes your finances.

  • dangblingus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    3·
    1 year ago

    Canada has been getting these scams for well over a decade. People still fall for it even though it’s BRUTALLY OBVIOUS ITS A SCAM. Why would Canada Post text you?

    • Buddahriffic@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 year ago

      A lot of the phone scams seem to target Chinese. There’s some that tell you what’s up in English and Chinese (which is a sign right there, as English and French are the official languages) in a recording and then say hit 1 for English and 2 for Chinese.

      I’d occasionally hit 1 for shits and giggles and act nervous about the warrant or my package stuck in customs or whatever they were trying to say. Early on, there would be someone trying to engage. First time buddy asked my name and I pointed out that he was trying to contact me so he should already know. Buddy got mad and demanded why I hit the button instead of hanging up lmao. But eventually it would just disconnect if you hit the English option. And I don’t know why Chinese so attempts to troll them on that line didn’t last long.

      Those calls seem to come in waves. Or maybe trolling them a bit gets them to add you to their do not call list and I only get them when someone starts a new scamming shop. I’d like to think I’m annoying them more than they are annoying me lol.