A Free Public Service

April 24, 2025

USPS MESSAGE SCAM

Attribution: US.FTC.GOV

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Have you ever gotten a text message about a package coming via the United States Postal Service? Maybe it confirmed your order, said a package is out for delivery, or said there’s a problem like unpaid postage, a missed delivery, or you need to update your shipping preferences. That text message will say to click a link to learn more or fix the problem. But there’s a good chance that text message that says it’s from USPS (or FedEx…or DHL…) is really from a scammer.

Scammers want you to click the link in their message. What happens next is the scam: the click takes you to a look-alike of a real website where they’ll tell you to enter personal or financial information. If you pay, that money — along with your credit card number, name, address, and anything else you entered — will go straight to the scammer.

To avoid this scam:

Verify delivery information independently. If you think a text is about a real delivery, don’t give information or click on any links in the message. Instead, go to the online retail site or account you ordered your item from to look up the shipping and tracking information for your package.

Use filters. See what options your mobile phone has to filter and block texts from unknown senders.

Report unwanted text messages and scams on the messaging app you use. See if your phone has an option to report junk or spam. If not, forward the message to 7726.

Check out these resources to help you weed out spam text messages, phishing emails, and unwanted calls. Spotted a scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

April 21, 2025

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo, California, USA.

Did you know that people almost always open text messages? In a new Data Spotlight about the big jump in reported fraud losses involving text scams, the FTC notes a study finding open rates can be as high as 98%. Those are really good odds for a scammer. And when scammers get you to respond to their messages, they’re cashing in. Here’s how you can increase your chances of keeping your money safe.

Some text scams start as fake fraud alerts. You get a message from someone claiming to be from the fraud department with Amazon or your bank, offering to help with a suspicious charge. But that’s the hook they use to get you to respond by messaging back or calling a number. Instead of help, they’ll spin elaborate lies and drain your bank account.

Or maybe you get a text about a problem with a delivery or a message about unpaid tolls. In both cases, they tell you to click a link to fix the issue. When you land on what seems to be the USPS or highway toll program website (they’re not), they tell you to pay “re-delivery fees” or “unpaid tolls.” That’s when you might end up giving your credit card or even your Social Security number to a scammer.

Scammers also use phony job opportunities and “wrong number” texts to convince you to respond. No matter what story you get, here are ways to avoid text scams:

• Don’t reply to unexpected text messages. It could lead to a scam.
• Never click links in unexpected messages. Scammers want you to react quickly, but it’s best to stop and check it out.
• Don’t assume a text from a known company or organization is legit. Check it out. Reach out to the company, state tolling agency, or bank using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text.

Delete and report scam texts using your phone’s “report junk” option or forward unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM). Learn more at ftc.gov/textscams.

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A Free Public Servvice

April 7, 2025

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE

Attribution: US ftc.gov

Scammers sometimes make you think you’ve hit a stroke of good luck. But if your million-dollar cash prize letter comes with instructions to pay a small fee — maybe for taxes, reporting, or handling — it’s not luck. It’s a scam. If you pay, you’ll lose your money and find out there’s no prize. Can you spot a prize scam?

Scammers use the promise of a prize to steal your money or your personal information. They might say they’re from a well-known company like Publishers Clearing House and call, text, email, or message you on social media to say you’re eligible for prize money. But they’ll say you have to send them money first — maybe to pay a fee to release unclaimed money, for example. No real company will make you pay to claim a prize. Only a scammer will. Before responding, slow down and ask yourself these questions:

What do others say? Search online and see what you find about the contest or company. Type the name with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.”

Did anyone else get this message? While you’re checking online, see if others report getting the same message. If you got the offer by mail, look at the postmark on the envelope or postcard. A bulk rate means other people got the same offer.

Did they ask me to pay or give sensitive personal information? If so, it’s a scam. There’s no reason to give your bank account or Social Security number to claim a prize. And only a scammer will insist you pay by wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, using a payment app like Apple Pay, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle, sending cash, or paying with gift cards or cryptocurrency to get your prize.

Share this alert with family and friends to help them avoid prize scams too. If you spot one, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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