Have you been getting messages about unclaimed packages? They could be a scam
Australia Post has issued two separate warnings this month about scammers targeting customers by posing as the postal service.
Scamwatch, which is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), received 2,234 reports about “Australia Post delivery” phishing scams this year.
They equated to losses of more than $20,000.
These kinds of scams are around all year long, the ACCC says, but it does see an increase in reports during peak sales times.
Because many people are shopping online and expecting gifts and deliveries in the lead-up to Christmas, they can be more vulnerable to delivery scams.
What should I do scam message?
if I think I’ve been sent a
■Do■’t click on a link or open an attachment.
■Do■’t rush to act. Scammers try to create a sense of urgency to trick you, so take your time to consider whether the message may be a scam.
Australia Post says it will never:
■Ca●●, text or email you asking for personal or financial information including passwords, credit card details or account information
■Ca●●, text or email you to request a payment
■Ask you to click on an email link to print off a label to redeem your package
If you’re concerned you’re a victim of identity theft, you can contact IDCARE, a not-for-profit charity that describes itself as Australia’s national identity and cyber support service.
Scamwatch says some parcel delivery scams can also reference other delivery services, so keep in mind it’s not only Australia Post customers being targeted.
Here are the two scams Australia Post is warning customers about:
‘Redelivery’ scams
This is when scammers send text messages telling people there’s a package waiting for them, but they need to arrange for it to be re-delivered or update their delivery details. Some messages contain threats that a package will be returned to the sender.
‘Schedule delivery’ scams
This is when scammers email people about a delivery that’s either on hold, suspended or “still waiting for your instructions”.
Recipients are prompted to click a link to reschedule the delivery.
Scammers can make texts look like they came from official organisations
You might have a string of legitimate texts from delivery companies about deliveries — for example, Australia Post messages show up as being sent from AusPost in your smartphone.
The ACCC spokesperson says scammers have ways of making their dodgy texts appear in this chain.
“Scammers can make fake messages seem real by spoofing the phone number of the organisation they are impersonating, in this case Australia Post.
“They can make scam messages appear in the same SMS chain as other legitimate messages from Australia Post, making it difficult for consumers to identify the scam.”