The USPS Package has Arrived at the Warehouse and Cannot be Delivered due to Incomplete Address Information.
Is a link to an unknown or suspicious website indicating a USPS delivery demands a response in an unwanted mobile text message that you’ve received?
Stop clicking the link if you have no business receiving a tracking request from the US Postal Service for that particular package.
Smishing is the name of this sort of fraudulent SMS message.
The fraudulent SMS message will be like this.
“The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link within 12 hours”
The term “smishing” refers to a type of phishing attack that uses phone numbers or text messages. It is common practice for scammers to send victims misleading text messages in an effort to get sensitive information, such as financial details, through a lure. In order to make their claims seem more legitimate, these con artists frequently try to pass themselves off as representatives of legitimate businesses or government agencies. When sending and receiving text messages, the United States Postal Service makes use of 5-digit short codes.
Identity thieves target victims in an effort to steal sensitive information such as passwords, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers, PINs, and other login credentials. Other crimes, such financial fraud, are committed using this data.
Customers may take advantage of the Postal Service’s free package tracking facilities by signing up online or by sending a text message with their tracking number. These services are provided at no cost by USPS! Prior to a client requesting the service, USPS will not send them any emails or text messages with a tracking number; additionally, these messages will not include any links. That being said, do not click on the link if you did not send the tracking request for that particular parcel to USPS directly.
Please do not click on any links in the text message if you are anticipating a package but think it is questionable. Alternatively, you can report it and find tracking information and more resources at USPS.com, accessible from any computer or mobile device.
HOW TO REPORT USPS Related SMISHING:
To report USPS related smishing, send an email to spam@uspis.gov.
- Without clicking on the web link, copy the body of the suspicious text message and paste into a new email.
- Provide your name in the email, and also attach a screenshot of the text message showing the phone number of the sender and the date sent.
- Include any relevant details in your email, for example: if you clicked the link, if you lost money, if you provided any personal information, or if you experienced any impacts to your credit or person.
- The Postal Inspection Service will contact you if more information is needed.
- Forward the smishing/text message to 7726 (this will assist with reporting the scam phone number).
Complaints of non-USPS related smishing can also be sent to any of the following law enforcement partners of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service:
- • Forward to 7726 (this will assist with reporting the scam phone number).
- • Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
- • The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI), Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3)
