If you’ve been doing a bit of online summer shopping then it’s worth being vigilant if you receive a text message with regards to a delivery. Mobile network Three UK has sent out a warning to its customers after seeing a sharp rise in fraudulent SMS messages pretending to be from delivery companies.
Though the network provider said it has blocked more than 20 million dodgy messages since January 2024, some are getting through the net to trick people out of their hard earned cash.
The deceptive messages are pushing what is known as a ‘missed parcel’ scam. This is when criminals send out texts or emails disguised as a delivery company, telling you you’ve missed a parcel and need to pay a fee to receive it or rearrange the drop off.
These messages have links to website or app downloads that appear to be for a real delivery firm, but if you click on them they urge you to either pay a fee or enter your bank details. In this way, the criminals can steal your bank details and then use them to make fraudulent purchases. They can also take a lump sum from you if you pay a one off fake fee, and on other occasions, fake tracking links can install malware on your phone, which can also lead to being defrauded.
“The ‘missed parcel’ scam has been around for a while, but online shoppers are more vulnerable at this time of year with summer deals and holiday shopping,” said Mark Fitzgerald, Director of Finance & Fraud at Three UK.
“If you’re expecting a delivery and you receive a ‘missed parcel’ message, do not click on any text links you receive. Use official apps or websites to track your parcel. Any texts that look suspicious, forward the message to 7726, the free spam-reporting service.”
According to research from Citizens Advice, 49 percent of people targeted by scammers are victims of parcel delivery scams, showing how prevalent this deceptive practice has become in the UK. The research also showed that a staggering 84 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds have been targeted through mobile messaging platforms.
Three said to watch out for the following telltale signs that you’ve received a scam text:
- Random phone numbers
- Poorly written English
- Texts that rush you to act
- A lack of real information about your parcel
- A web link that contains additional text
Here is what Three recommends you do if you think you’ve received such a message:
