Don’t click on emails or texts about package deliveries

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - It’s a simple scam: you get a text saying “click here for updates on a package delivery.“ But clicking that unsolicited link could open you up to a world of financial fraud.

With the pandemic, and most of us shopping online, we are all expecting packages at the house. But make sure you initiate all the tracking of those packages you ordered.

Don’t get fooled by emails or text messages. Scammers know everyone is waiting on something to be delivered. So they are sending out fake messages saying things like, “click here to coordinate pick up or drop off.”

Barry Moore with the Central Virginia Better Business Bureau says don’t do it! Don’t click the link.

“Frankly, a lot of that is just you go into that link you and end up downloading malware into your phone and it just gets worse from there,” said Moore.

Moore says the number one thing you can do to protect yourself is to track the packages yourself. That means going on the actual website for the company. Don’t click on any unsolicited link or email. Make sure you know who you are dealing with.

If a random text pops up that does appear to be from Amazon or FedEx, and you didn’t sign up for any sort of tracking alerts, still don’t click the link. Moore says, instead go to the company website and enter your tracking number.

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