Nearly 43 million UK adult internet users have encountered scams online[1] and with 2.64 billion people worldwide now choosing to shop online[2], delivery scams have become increasingly prominent.

Consumers are being targeted with fake messages through various platforms, such as WhatsApp, text messages, email, and even on resale sites, such as Facebook marketplace.

More recently, ‘missed delivery’ scams have surfaced impersonating trusted organisations and courier services via text message or email and are already having unfortunate success.

To protect online shoppers from scams, tech company, DeliveryApp, has collaborated with cybersecurity expert, John Price, to advise on how to spot a delivery scam, and what to do should you fall victim to one.

How to spot a fake delivery scam.

For those who regularly order things online, a message from a courier service might not seem out of the blue – but they are asking for delivery fee payment or rearrange collection.

Missed delivery scams usually include a link to a website to do this, or to an app to download. The number could be “spoofed” and may look like it belongs to a legitimate company, or the email might look like its coming from the legitimate organisation.

The experts stress to pay attention to the small details to avoid falling victim to the current delivery scams, focusing particularly on the following:

Unsolicited Communications: Be wary of unexpected delivery notifications, especially if you haven’t ordered anything or during busy periods such as in the lead up to Christmas. Scammers often use the element of surprise to get recipients to click without thinking.

Generic Greetings: Many scam messages use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your name. Legitimate delivery companies typically personalize their notifications.

Suspicious Links: Examine any link before clicking to see where they lead and don’t download any apps. If the URL doesn’t match the official website of the delivery company or seems unusual, it’s likely a scam. If you’ve received an email, check the sender’s address with a critical eye it will usually be clear if it’s not from an official company.
Urgent Action Required: Scammers often instill a sense of urgency, such as claiming your package will be returned to the sender unless you take immediate action or pay a fee.

What do to if you are scammed.

Inform Your Bank: If you provided financial details or made a payment, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. They can block your card, prevent unauthorized transactions, or even potentially reverse charges.

Change Passwords: If you clicked on a suspicious link and logged into what you thought was a legitimate site, change your password for that account immediately. It’s also a good practice to change passwords for other critical accounts, especially if you use the same one across multiple platforms.

Monitor Your Accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized or suspicious transactions in the following weeks.

Secure Your Email: Ensure that you have strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (if available) for your email and other essential accounts.

John Price added “Scammers have become even more savvy when it comes to targeting consumers, so I’d encourage anyone to immediately delete a message that you are unsure of. Try to block any spam-like email addresses or numbers too to avoid being contacted again by them.”

Lance Jones, Founder and CEO of DeliveryApp also commented saying: “It’s important to be extra vigilant of potential scams in busy periods such as black Friday and in the lead up to Christmas, especially if you are an active user of online marketplaces.

“If you’ve used a trusted courier and are expecting a parcel, check the official app or site to track your parcel. If you are not expecting a parcel or any kind of tracked mail, your best bet is to ignore and delete.”