Don’t Let Holiday Stress Lead to Scams: Protect Yourself from USPS Smishing Fraud
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As the holiday season ramps up, stress and distractions can make us vulnerable to scams. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is warning about “smishing,” a fraudulent text message scheme designed to steal sensitive personal information.
What Is Smishing?
Smishing, or SMS phishing, involves scammers sending fake texts claiming to be from official sources like USPS. These messages often request personal information such as usernames, passwords, or financial details, under the guise of resolving package delivery issues.
USPS Reminders and Protection Tips:
- No Texts from USPS: USPS will never send unsolicited texts about delivery problems. To track packages, register only through the official USPS website.
- Stay Alert: Don’t click on suspicious links or provide personal information through unsolicited texts.
- Report Fraud: Take screenshots of scam texts and email them to [email protected]. Include details such as the sender’s phone number and any impacts you experienced. Forward the message to 7726 to help identify scam numbers.
Stay Secure During the Holidays
USPS also offers legitimate services like Informed Delivery, which provides email updates on mail and packages. Sign up through their website to ensure safe and reliable notifications.
This season, don’t let stress cloud your judgment—stay alert, protect your information, and report any suspicious activity to USPS.
USPS issues warning about a package tracking text message scam. What to know (NBC Los Angeles, Pons, 12/18)
