Watch out for vile USPS scam circling WhatsApp

USPS will never send messages on WhatsApp. The company will only contact you via text if you request the service first. Their messages will never contain a link.

USPS WhatsApp scam circles

The scam message claims that you have a package waiting at the warehouse and additional information is needed to deliver it.

It asks you to click on a link and confirm your address before concluding: “The USPS team wishes you a wonderful day.”

Hackers are posing as the postal service and using fake messages to take victims to a bogus phishing site which will steal your details.

Criminals want to retrieve personal information such as account passwords, date of birth and credit card numbers for fraudulent purposes.

USPS is aware of these scam messages and has urged people not to click on any strange web links.

“If you never signed up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, then don’t click the link! This type of text message is a scam called smishing,” their website says.

Smishing is a combination of the words “SMS” and “phishing” and is when cybercriminals send deceptive text messages to lure victims into sharing personal information.

USPS says it will not send customers any text messages or e-mails without a customer requesting the service first with a tracking number.

How to report a USPS scam

Any suspicious messages should be reported to WhatsApp:

  • Click on the message thread.
  • Hold down the message bubble.
  • Click ‘Report’.
  • Then, tap on the person’s name at the top.
  • Scroll down to ‘Report’.
  • You need to report the scam directly to USPS too:

  • Begin a new email to [email protected].
  • Copy the body of the suspicious message without clicking on the link and paste into the email.
  • Attach a screenshot of the message showing the phone number of the sender and the date sent.
  • Include any relevant details including if you clicked the link, lost money or provided any personal information.
  • Don’t forget to include your name and contact information.
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