‘Customs charge’ text scam

AUCKLAND: Thousands of New Zealanders have received a scam text message about an unpaid customs charge for a package delivery.

The text, sent from an Australian mobile number, says: ‘‘We have attempted to deliver your package UPS016448296GB, but there is an unpaid customs charge.’’

It then asks recipients to ‘‘ follow the instructions’’.

Netsafe chief executive Martin Cocker said the agency has received thousands of reports about the scam.

‘‘It is particularly prevalent at this time of year as more people are shopping online and expecting a package, so potentially more likely to fall for it,’’ he said.

‘‘So far this quarter, Netsafe has seen a 65% increase in reports related to the latest iteration of this scam compared to the last financial year.’’

He said scammers obtained lists of people’s mobile numbers from social media and from databases stolen from legitimate companies and sold on the ‘‘dark web’’.

‘‘The reality is that plenty of big sites that New Zealanders use have been breached,’’ he said.

‘‘Most of us use the same email addresses and phone numbers and even passwords for a long time, and we can be targeted.’’

He said people should not click on any links in messages asking for money or personal details.

‘‘You go to the agency that you know is the right place. Don’t click links,’’ he said.

The Customs Service said it had received 60 calls and a handful of emails about the scam in recent days. — The New Zealand Herald