Michigan AG Issues Warning About New Post Office Text Scam

Another day, another scam. Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning Michigan residents about scammers posing as the United States Post Office.

Nessel says the bad actors are sending out fraudulent messages that appear to be legitimate messages from the USPS, appearing to be delivery notifications and tracking links.

However, the messages are nothing more than a smishing scam.

“It is critically important for people to recognize a scam like this and avoid giving out their personal information,” said Nessel. “Clicking on fraudulent links can lead to identity theft, the installation of malware on your device, and could lead to your contact information being sold to other bad actors who are also looking to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.”

What's the Difference Between Phishing and Smishing?

Phishing is a way of tricking victims into clicking on fraudulent links in email in order to gain access to usernames, passwords, and account information. Smishing is the same thing, only delivered via text message.

Ways to Protect Yourself from Smishing Scams

The AG's office listed a few ways you can help keep yourself safe from such scams.

• First, don't click links that come via text messages from unsolicited senders. Even familiar phone numbers or area codes can be fraudulent because spammers use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the text is from a trusted or local source.
• Don't provide personal or financial information in response to the unsolicited text or at a website linked to the message.

(And this one surprised me)

• Don't reply, even if the message says you can "text STOP" to avoid more messages. That tells them your number is active and can then be sold to other bad actors. This includes pressing designated keys to opt out of future messages.

Did you know you CAN forward questionable texts to 7726 (SPAM) so wireless carriers can investigate the sender and potentially block the number.