USPS Scam

Don’t click on that link – beware of the smishing scam!

7 17 Credit Union is always looking for ways to educate our members about new scams and fraud techniques designed to steal your money and the latest one we want you to know about is one involving an unsolicited text message to your phone. With the peak holiday shopping season just around the corner, knowing how to spot a scam is vital.

This latest scam that says it’s from the United States Postal Service (USPS) telling you about an undeliverable package is NOT from them. It’s a criminal on the other end. The text may say they cannot verify your address or that your address needs updated, is incomplete, or even that an unclaimed package is waiting on you.

Fraudsters then ask you to click on a link from your phone, answer some questions, and put in your debit card and phone number. Then, consumers will often get another text asking them to provide enrollment codes which had been sent to the phone. This allows those unscrupulous criminals an opportunity to add your card to their mobile device which they can then use to steal your money.

Consumers who have clicked on those links and submitted card information end up with nothing. No package - and only unauthorized charges posted to their accounts. We want our members to be protected!

A reminder from 7 17 that we will never text you or ask you to give us your card numbers nor will we ever ask you to read us a code that you receive on your end. Neither will a reputable agency like USPS. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these types of smishing scams are on the rise right now, so please protect yourself and lean on 7 17 for support.

No matter what the unexpected text says, the advice is the same.

• Don’t click on links or respond to unexpected texts. That includes ones asking you to confirm payment info, address, or even ones that ask you to fill out surveys to get free items. If you think it could be legit, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is real. Don’t use the information in the text message.
• Don’t pay to get a package redelivered. The real USPS won’t contact you out of the blue about a delivery (unless you submitted a request first and give a tracking number) — and they’ll never demand payment to redeliver a package.
• Contact 7 17 Credit Union if you ever feel uncertain or uneasy about any correspondence you receive, whether it be via text, voicemail, mail, or other.