Gloucester County Government: How To Identify And Avoid Package Delivery Scams

Press release from the Gloucester County Government:

December 14, 2021

If you’ve started your holiday shopping, you may have received purchase confirmation emails.

Unfortunately, cybercriminals have also been sending their own version of these emails. In a new scam, cybercriminals impersonate companies to send fake purchase confirmation emails in hopes of receiving a special holiday gift: your credit card information. 

“The holidays are the prime time for scammers to get information off the vulnerable,” said Director Robert M. Damminger. “Practice caution when organizing shipping or purchase confirmation emails. Always make sure that the sender email is real and do not click a link in the email until you confirm that it is from a legit sender.”

Many delivery scams start with a text or email about delivering a package to your address. These messages often include a "tracking link" that you are urged to click in order to update your delivery or payment preferences.  

“While these messages often look or sound legitimate, you should never click a link or call back the number from an unexpected delivery notice. Contact the delivery service or seller directly using a verified number or website,” said Commissioner Lyman Barnes. 

Some of the most common warning signs of mail, text or online scams:

• Unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package, often with a sense of urgency.
• Requests for personal and/or financial information.
• Links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses, like "fedx.com" or "fed-ex.com."
• Spelling and grammatical errors or excessive use of capitalization and exclamation points.
• Certificate errors or lack of online security protocols for sensitive activities. 

If you a victim or suspect a scam, please report it to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Visithttps://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Pages/Consumer-Complaints.aspx to file online.

This press release was produced by the Gloucester County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.