Dont be like me.
I feel like a fool.
I typed in my personal financial information, even though in retrospect I obviously should have known better.
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This experience left me with two burning questions:
So I spoke with a bunch of online security experts.
They disagreed about whether the scammers actually knew I had mailed a package.
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But they all agreed on one thing: This kind of phone texting scam is becoming increasingly common.
People need to watch out, the experts say, because the problem is only likely to get worse.
How the Scam Worked
This was a classicphishing attack.
Phishing is when someone poses as a reputable company or organization to get your personal information.
They might pretend to be from your bank, or the government or a business youve dealt with before.
Did you know?
The important thing to know here is that I almost never do this.
I rarely mail packages to people, but this was a special occasion.
Only two days later I got the following text: [.USPS.]
To re-mail my package, I typed in my debit card number, expiration date and three-digit verification number.
And Ihadbeen a little worried about the package I mailed, because it was important.
Thats why I missed a number of totally obvious red flags such as the fact that this supposed U.S. Its a smallish European country thats next to Serbia and Kosovo, north of Greece.
Right now I have no debit card, which is inconvenient.
But heres whats really bothering me: How did the scammers know I had mailed a package?
These texts or emails often urge you to hit a link to update personal information or payment methods.
The most common one would be to get their hands on your package tracking information.
Its likely they had no way of knowing you were expecting a package.
Heres one thing all these experts agree on: These types of scams are becoming more and more common.
Tips for How to Protect Yourself
Again, dont be like me.
Pay close attention to every word in a text before you respond to it.
And heres the gist:
Again, dont be like me.
The scammers are more active than ever, and theyre not going anywhere.
Use your head, keep your eyes open, and watch your back.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
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