Mail delays, supply chain issues, shortages. Any or all could delay shipments of things you order this holiday season. It also contributes to a flurry of fake shipping notification texts and emails popping up in emails or on phones.
Like many of us, Chana Rosenblat’s mom anxiously awaited a package she ordered. Chana said, “She went through her emails and saw something from USPS, so immediately she responded.”
The alert said they attempted a delivery .. but no one was home. Chana says it went on to offer to re-deliver with a catch, “They said there was a $3 fee.”
An amount low enough to convince her to pay. Her mom put in her address and credit card number but was then asked for more. “When she submitted it came out with asking for her social security number.”
Chana said that she intervened and had her mom cancel her credit card. But she sees others easily falling for this scam.
“If I hadn’t stopped her,” she said, “She might’ve put in her social security number because she wanted that package really badly.”
And that’s just what scammers count on, according to Google Cyber-Security expert Alex Krasov.
“Any of these scams the purpose is to get you to share some kind of personal information with the bad actor so they could pose as amazon, as ups, as your bank, the telephone company, even a friend or relative, but they’re always trying to get your password, maybe your credit card information, maybe your bank account, that’s what they’re trying to get from you when…
