Because of the ease and comfort it provides, online shopping has grown into a multibillion dollar industry. Consumers in every corner of the globe now routinely turn to their favorite online retailers for anything from fashion accessories to toilet paper, and many are even ready to wait several days for their orders to arrive.
Scammers have begun to take advantage of this reliance by texting their victims. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to the US9514961195221 text scam or a similar scheme, keep reading to learn how to protect yourself and your money.
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What is a Text Message Scam?
A “smishing” scam, or text message scam, is a form of fraud that uses text messages in a similar way as “vishing” does voice calls. Scammers send unwanted messages posing as official USPS communications, requesting recipients to click on a link that takes them to a website.
When a user follows the link, they are taken to what appears to be a legitimate website, but is actually a fraudulent site set up to steal sensitive information. Users’ names, addresses, birthdays, passwords, and payment details can be retrieved. Scammers make use of this knowledge to steal hundreds of dollars from unsuspecting victims.
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The “US9514961195221” Scam, Exposed
There seems to have been an increase in reports of individuals receiving text messages purportedly from the USPS informing them that there has been an issue with the delivery of their item. According to the letter, the recipient must supply further information before their shipment may be rerouted and delivered on time.
The mail claims to have a tracking number of US9514961195221, but this is a bogus number.
The message is worded in a way that instills a sense of urgency, leading the reader to believe that this is an extremely serious issue that requires immediate attention. This makes it easy for unsuspecting users to click the link and be taken to a fake USPS website.
Using the same logo and design style as the official USPS website, it may appear to be legitimate at first glance. On the other hand, there could be imperfections that make it stand out.
Users will be asked to enter their name, address, and credit card details once they access the site in order to cover the cost of redelivery. This data could be bought and sold by criminals on the dark web, where it could then be used for identity theft, shopping fraud, or other criminal activities.
A customer may be instructed to call a certain number in order to get their problem fixed. Scammers may pose as computer diagnostics experts in an effort to trick customers into paying for fake support services or downloading malicious software.
Scammers can compromise important information, steal personal data, and install malware like spyware, ransomware, and Trojan horses once they obtain access to a computer.
Scammers in this case are pretending to be the United States Postal Service (USPS), an organization run by the United States federal government and so quite believable. Therefore, most users who receive such a message will assume that the requested information will be kept secure, making it easy for scammers to make money.
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The US9514961195221 text message scam: how to protect yourself
Avoiding a text message scam like the US9514961195221 comes down to paying attention. Listed below are some characteristics of a potentially malicious text message.
Tracking Number
The US9514961195221 tracking number has been flagged as suspicious after prior victims reported it. As a result, you can safely disregard any message that uses this number.
On the other hand, fraudsters can use a separate false tracking number to trick their targets. Copy the suspicious tracking number and paste it into the USPS tracker tool at https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input to make sure. Incorrect numbers will result in a “Status Not Available” error message being shown.
Spelling and Grammar
Companies like USPS, which employs a large workforce, provide excellent customer service because they pay close attention to detail. Technical flaws, such as bad grammar and spelling, may indicate a more malicious intent in a message purporting to come from a reliable source.
Carefully read through any texts you get to make sure you don’t miss any technical mistakes a fraudster may have made in a rush.
Generic Greeting
You should be wary of suspicious texts that address you as “user” or “customer” instead of by name. When you sign up for a service, most businesses will have access to your complete name and use it throughout all future communications with you.
Even though this isn’t proof that a text message should be flagged as smishing, it could be part of a larger pattern, so caution is warranted.
Directing towards a shortened link
Scammers’ most common strategy is sending victims to a website where they are led to believe their issue may be resolved. These links may take you to spoof sites that look and feel just like the real thing. Even if you elect not to provide any information after clicking the link, malware like trojan horses and spyware may still be downloaded in the background and compromise your system.
If you can, try not to use links at all and instead just type in what you want to see into the site’s search bar. In this way, you won’t have to wonder if what you’re doing is real. If you have any problems, just give the customer service line a ring, and they’ll help you out right away.
Sense of Urgency
Statements in text message scams are frequently crafted to elicit instant, emotional responses. The intended response is an instantaneous one, before the receiver has time to process the message’s rationale.
Scammers prey on people’s fears to trick them into thinking they’ve done something wrong that, if not fixed right away, will result in a devastating financial loss.
Even if you receive a text message with phrases like “urgent” or “hurry” in them, it’s probably best to give it some thought before reacting hastily. This manner, you may plan ahead with confidence and steer clear of any potential disaster.
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What to do if I suspect a scam message
Unfortunately, smishing attempts are all too common, so you probably will encounter a text message scam at some point. If you’ve done your due diligence and determined that the communication you got is likely fraudulent, you can take the following precautions to protect your personal information and financial assets.
- Stay away from all links.
- Remove the message from both your Inbox and your phone’s Recently Deleted folder.
- Don’t answer any more texts from that number; instead, block it.
- Make sure your phone is malware-free by performing a full scan.
- Upgrade to the most recent version of Android or iOS for the best protection.
- Contact USPS with your complaint to help stop the sender of these fraudulent letters. Send a screenshot of the text message, along with the
- Sender’s number, to [email protected] so that others can avoid falling for the same trick.
Conclusion
Every interaction is evaluated by how quick and easy it is in this age of smartphones and texting. Scammers are able to take advantage of people because of how busy our lives have become. They accomplish this by taking advantage of people’s reliance on technology to defraud them out of hundreds of dollars. You need to be on your toes right now if you want to avoid being a victim of online communication.
