California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert regarding package delivery text message scams. These messages often claim there is an issue with your delivery and include a link to resolve the problem. Such scams are more prevalent during the holiday season when online shopping increases.
"The gift giving season is in full swing, and with it, comes a parade of package deliveries. Scammers can take this opportunity to use fake delivery text messages and fraudulent links to steal consumers money or personal information," said Attorney General Bonta. "I urge Californians to beware of these scams, avoid clicking on unexpected text message links, and slow down — scammers prey on urgency."
To protect against these scams, several precautions are advised:
- Be cautious of unexpected messages. Ignore unsolicited texts, emails, or calls about package issues.
- Do not click on unknown links claiming to be from delivery companies. Instead, visit the official carrier website directly.
- Be wary of payment requests as legitimate delivery services do not ask for payments to release packages.
- Watch out for red flags such as urgent action required messages that lack personalization or contain errors.
- Enable alerts from trusted carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS for direct updates.
- Regularly monitor financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.
Suspicious messages can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If you suspect a scam via text message, report it to your wireless provider by forwarding it to 7726 or "SPAM".