USPS Scams on the Rise in Indiana: Here’s What You Need to Know

With Christmas coming up this week, many might still be waiting on packages to come in. That being said, scammers are trying to cash in on that with a series of scams throughout Indiana.

There are so many ways people can get scammed nowadays. You could get a threatening phone call from a scammer, phishing email scams, social media scams, and even text message scams. It's honestly kind of scary, especially for the elderly, who typically fall victim more often. These scammers have gotten very creative throughout the years. It's hard not only to keep up with them, but it has also gotten even harder to decipher what is legitimate and what is a scam. This is just another example of one of those scams, and it's called "smishing."

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What is "Smishing?"

Smishing is kind of like phishing, but instead of getting an email asking you to click a link or send more information, scammers use text messages to disguise themselves as trusted organizations like the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

I actually received one of these smishing scams over the weekend from a scammer claiming to be the U.S. Postal Service. I first noticed that something was off about this message because of the phone number attached to it. It did not come from the United States. The request the message was asking me also sounded weird. This is the text that I received over the weekend.

NEVER Click the Link!

If you receive a text like this, it is an attempt to scam you. The United States Postal Service will never send unsolicited tracking text messages. Legit messages are only sent if you request updates and do not include a clickable link. Here's what the USPS says about these smishing scams:

The Postal Service offers free tools to track specific packages, but customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS does not charge for these services! USPS will not send customers text messages or e-mails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link. So, if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link: don’t click the link!

 

Tips to Protect Indiana Residents from Smishing Scams

1. Don't Trust Unknown Senders: If a tracking text looks fishy, ignore it.
2. Avoid Clicking Links in Texts: Always go directly to the USPS website for tracking updates.
3. Report Smishing Scams: Forward scam messages to 7726 (SPAM) and email details to spam@uspis.gov.
4. Stay Alert Online: Be cautious while shopping or signing up for services requiring personal details.