Posted: Jan 25, 2020 \/ 04:36 PM CST \/ Updated: Jan 25, 2020 \/ 04:36 PM CST<\/p>\n
(CBS NEWS) Online shoppers waiting for a package to arrive may want to think twice before opening any delivery updates that are texted to them. FedEx and Amazon are warning customers about a new nationwide scam, according to CBS New York correspondent Tom Hanson.<\/p>\n
People across the U.S. are receiving text messages that claim to be from FedEx and ask you to set delivery preferences. Its a new example of a growing scam called smishing in which fraudsters send unsolicited messages from well-known companies or reputable sources to try to obtain phone access and personal information from their targets. The scheme is similar to phishing, long a source of scam email, only its powered by the short message service, or SMS, technology used in texting.<\/p>\n
Anyone that has a phone number could be a target, said Justin Duino, managing editor of online tech publicationHow-To Geek. <\/p>\n
Duino said people who click on the link sent in a smishing attack are directed to a fake Amazon customer satisfaction survey. It then offers a free watch or other gifts as a reward, but requires recipients to enter their credit card information to pay for shipping.<\/p>\n
When you dig into it, its asking you to sign up for a trial to the company where theyll charge you almost $100 a month, he said.<\/p>\n
A number of Twitter users said they had been targeted by the FedEx smishing scam.<\/p>\n
Security experts said they dont know who is behind the scam, while police in several states are warning people not to fall for it.<\/p>\n
In atweet from FedEx, the company told customers: We do not send unsolicited texts or emails requesting money, package or personal information. Suspicious messages should be deleted without being opened and reported to abuse@fedex.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Duinos advice? If you dont recognize the sender of a text and if you dont trust whoever is sending it to you, dont click on any links. If you do, Id immediately exit out of them, he said.<\/p>\n Although it can be hard to tell the real messages from the fake ones, Duinos golden rule is: Think before you click.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n View post: <\/p>\n FedEx: That text about a package is a scam youre being smished - KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Posted: Jan 25, 2020 \/ 04:36 PM CST \/ Updated: Jan 25, 2020 \/ 04:36 PM CST (CBS NEWS) Online shoppers waiting for a package to arrive may want to think twice before opening any delivery updates that are texted to them. FedEx and Amazon are warning customers about a new nationwide scam, according to CBS New York correspondent Tom Hanson. People across the U.S Continue reading