katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378 
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Post by katybee on Dec 18, 2021 17:02:53 GMT
Stupid me. Normally I am SUPER suspicious. Just now, I very nearly just gave a scammer my CC info.
I got notification of a Zappos delivery. But I didn’t get it. This morning, I got a text from “UPS” saying they attempted delivery but no one was home to sign for it. So they have it at the UPS storage facility. And that if I don’t respond in 2 days, they will send it back. And I owe $1.20 for a storage fee. There was an official looking form to fill out with my address and a place to enter my CC info to pay the fee.
I had already entered my address when my common sense kicked in.
All the red flags I nearly missed:
#1: I was home yesterday.
#2: I already had part of the order delivered when I wasn’t home.
#3: Since when do you have to sign for a Zappos order? They usually just throw them at my door and hope they get close.
#4: The storage facility was pretty far away….meaning I would be happy to pay the $1.20 to not have to drive all the way there.
#5: Since when does UPS charge a “storage fee”?
#6: All of my Zappos orders are usually delivered in an Amazon truck.
#7: Looking at the text closer, it didn’t mention Zappos at all….just “my package.” Duh…they’re just throwing random texts out there assuming we’re all having packages delivered right now.
#8: My shoes are waiting for me in my Amazon locker.
Don’t be stupid like me. Seriously….how did I almost fall for that?
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Dec 18, 2021 17:04:51 GMT
Good catch! They rely on you reacting without thinking.
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Post by mollycoddle on Dec 18, 2021 17:06:35 GMT
Interesting, thanks for the heads up. I have been getting customer surveys from UPS, which I am ignoring. I’m wondering if they are a scam, because they are remarkably persistent.
ETA: it’s Fed-ex, not UPS, that keeps sending me surveys. It might be perfectly legitimate, but who knows?
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 18, 2021 17:07:04 GMT
I’ve been getting a lot of those scam texts lately. I just delete them all. All of the places I get stuff from usually email me (with my name in the message) to let me know when to expect my packages. And even those, I never click any links in the emails themselves.
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Post by Alexxussss on Dec 18, 2021 17:10:08 GMT
It’s easy when you think it’s only for $1.20. So glad you caught it!
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Post by disneypal on Dec 18, 2021 17:12:18 GMT
It just goes to show how easily it is to get scammed . . , even by the smartest & most careful people. Cyber scammers are getting smarter & smarter.
Never click on a link from a text/email unless you’ve talked to the person that sent it…always go directly to the website by typing it into your browser.
Glad you caught yourself - way to analyze! I hate scammers!
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Post by psoccer on Dec 18, 2021 17:14:46 GMT
I’m pretty sure I almost got scammed the other day too. I got a text the other day that said “hey Lizzie, I’m sorry about sleeping with your sister”. My first response was to message back “wrong number” but I googled and while it’s possible it was a wrong number it could have been a potential hack.
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Post by katlady on Dec 18, 2021 17:17:54 GMT
Glad you caught it in time!
Gmail is pretty good at filtering out spam. I go into my spam folder once a week to clear it out , and there are emails from “UPS” in there. I don’t open them, but the preview line shows something about an attempted delivery. I wonder if those are the same ones you got.
ETA - one way to check for spam, is hover over the sender’s email address. If it is a bunch of gibberish, delete!
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Post by Scrapper100 on Dec 18, 2021 17:27:05 GMT
Interesting, thanks for the heads up. I have been getting customer surveys from UPS, which I am ignoring. I’m wondering if they are a scam, because they are remarkably persistent. ETA: it’s Fed-ex, not UPS, that keeps sending me surveys. It might be perfectly legitimate, but who knows? I have had a ton of FedEx deliveries and have never received a survey. |
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Post by scrapmaven on Dec 18, 2021 17:27:28 GMT
UPS doesn't have paid storage. If you don't get your package w/in a certain time frame it is sent back to the sender. I'm glad you caught this before it was too late.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,620
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Dec 18, 2021 17:30:40 GMT
They're definitely getting better at it!
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Post by Scrapper100 on Dec 18, 2021 17:31:28 GMT
UPS doesn't have paid storage. If you don't get your package w/in a certain time frame it is sent back to the sender. I'm glad you caught this before it was too late. The UPS store does have boxes you can pay for and they will charge you if you don’t pay within so many days. My FIL had one as he lived in an apartment and didn’t trust stuff sitting outside. He had a lot of stuff shipped there. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Dec 18, 2021 17:35:52 GMT
Glad you caught it and you are 'safe'...
It never hurts to remind ourselves to be cautious. TFS!
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Post by mollycoddle on Dec 18, 2021 17:45:22 GMT
Interesting, thanks for the heads up. I have been getting customer surveys from UPS, which I am ignoring. I’m wondering if they are a scam, because they are remarkably persistent. ETA: it’s Fed-ex, not UPS, that keeps sending me surveys. It might be perfectly legitimate, but who knows? I have had a ton of FedEx deliveries and have never received a survey. I really think that it is a scam. I usually get deliveries from UPS, Amazon, or the postal service. It just started a week or so ago. And they send them daily. 🙄 I just keep deleting. 🤷♀️ |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Dec 18, 2021 17:54:59 GMT
I have Informed Delivery with USPS, and accounts with both, UPS and FEDEX, so I go directly there with anything questionable. Also makes it a whole lot easier to track packages, normally.... this time of year, not so much...
I have had a FEDEX package visiting all over New England since Dec 10th!!! It just might make it here today, they are saying......
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Post by Zee on Dec 18, 2021 18:01:25 GMT
I've gotten similar things before. Glad your common sense kicked in!
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Post by librarylady on Dec 18, 2021 20:00:08 GMT
DH and I each keep getting a scamming text that says, "Thanks for paying your ATT bill, here is a thank you" followed by a link. (yes, that would be a gift that keeps giving!)
Good grief, is anyone that foolish to think ATT will give a gift for paying a bill?
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Post by rainangel on Dec 18, 2021 20:53:20 GMT
I work with a company who had designed a program to help combat fraud against businesses. So I am very familiar with these types of texts and emails. They will look identical to business emails, they are good at provoking that sense of urgency, they are exploiting weaknesses in people's internet when they are working from home, the emails will appear to come from legitimate senders like UPS or tax office. It's making me distrust anytjing and everyone on the internet, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
I'm glad you had the prescense of mind to become aware this was scam. Can you imagine how many who are not that familiar with modern technology, or are in a hurry that day, or are expecting a package fall for this? Thousands! Thousands and thousands!
Always be sceptical. If you are unsure, go directly to the source and double-check they actually sent out a message to you. And use a credit card, not a debit card. A lot easier to get your money back from the insurance on the CC. Be vigilant about you statements. Sometimes they will tap your card for $5 at a time, but 100 times a day.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,976
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Dec 18, 2021 20:58:33 GMT
I've been getting a lot of jibberish scammer emails lately.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Dec 18, 2021 23:46:21 GMT
My husband got a call from our local utility company over the weekend and was put in a queue of "your call is important to us, please stay on the line." Once connected, the "representative" told him our power would be cut off in one hour if our account was not paid in full. I told him to ask how much we "owed." The answer was $209 and some odd cents. That's less than a monthly bill for us! It was clearly a scam and he hung up. He then called the company who verified we were indeed current on our bill and took the report of the attempted scam.
I asked my husband afterwards if he caught the biggest red flag in the whole scenario? He puzzled a minute and asked what I meant. They called on his work phone. A number that has zero connection to our home accounts. He said good catch!
Unfortunately, we have several acquaintances who have fallen for various scams. One realtor friend ended up losing $1500 to a "you missed jury duty and owe a fine" scam. It's frightening how gullible people can be under the right circumstances.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 19, 2021 12:06:50 GMT
DH and I each keep getting a scamming text that says, "Thanks for paying your ATT bill, here is a thank you" followed by a link. (yes, that would be a gift that keeps giving!) Good grief, is anyone that foolish to think ATT will give a gift for paying a bill? Yeah, we keep getting that one, too. The scammers are getting so good, it's easy to be fooled. |
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Post by imkat on Dec 19, 2021 12:38:18 GMT
katybee = I got the same thing in November. I had been waiting for a package for my daughter and it was way overdue. I thought it sounded fishy, but wondered if this was something new. Like you, I had been home, and didn't think I would need to sign for shoes (not from Zappos), so I deleted it.
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Post by Zee on Dec 19, 2021 15:33:19 GMT
I just got a Verizon version of "thanks for paying your bill, here's a gift" with link.
They even put the numbers at the top to make it look at first glance like it was from VZN, but it was actually sent from a phone number with an area code. Blocked and deleted.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Dec 19, 2021 16:03:49 GMT
Stupid me. Normally I am SUPER suspicious. Just now, I very nearly just gave a scammer my CC info. I got notification of a Zappos delivery. But I didn’t get it. This morning, I got a text from “UPS” saying they attempted delivery but no one was home to sign for it. So they have it at the UPS storage facility. And that if I don’t respond in 2 days, they will send it back. And I owe $1.20 for a storage fee. There was an official looking form to fill out with my address and a place to enter my CC info to pay the fee. I had already entered my address when my common sense kicked in. All the red flags I nearly missed: #1: I was home yesterday. #2: I already had part of the order delivered when I wasn’t home. #3: Since when do you have to sign for a Zappos order? They usually just throw them at my door and hope they get close. #4: The storage facility was pretty far away….meaning I would be happy to pay the $1.20 to not have to drive all the way there. #5: Since when does UPS charge a “storage fee”? #6: All of my Zappos orders are usually delivered in an Amazon truck. #7: Looking at the text closer, it didn’t mention Zappos at all….just “my package.” Duh…they’re just throwing random texts out there assuming we’re all having packages delivered right now. #8: My shoes are waiting for me in my Amazon locker. Don’t be stupid like me. Seriously….how did I almost fall for that? I get texts like that a few times a week. I just block them and delete! |
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,664
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Post by Rhondito on Dec 19, 2021 16:23:33 GMT
I just got a Verizon version of "thanks for paying your bill, here's a gift" with link. They even put the numbers at the top to make it look at first glance like it was from VZN, but it was actually sent from a phone number with an area code. Blocked and deleted. I'm getting those randomly but from AT&T. It's been happening for a month or so. |
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Post by vsimone on Dec 19, 2021 16:37:15 GMT
So annoying aren't they? I've been getting heaps of texts and a few emails like this lately. I almost fell for one from Australia Post that had all the right logos and information on it, and just as I was about to start filling in info I realised they've never asked me for anything like that before, so I went to the post office and they confirmed it was a scam. Now I either ring the delivery company to check or just hit delete.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Dec 19, 2021 17:10:30 GMT
DH and I each keep getting a scamming text that says, "Thanks for paying your ATT bill, here is a thank you" followed by a link. (yes, that would be a gift that keeps giving!) Good grief, is anyone that foolish to think ATT will give a gift for paying a bill? I get that one all the time! Happy to day I’ve never fallen for it. But it does always come around my billing date. How the heck do they know that info? That’s scary! |
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Dec 19, 2021 17:12:26 GMT
I work with a company who had designed a program to help combat fraud against businesses. So I am very familiar with these types of texts and emails. They will look identical to business emails, they are good at provoking that sense of urgency, they are exploiting weaknesses in people's internet when they are working from home, the emails will appear to come from legitimate senders like UPS or tax office. It's making me distrust anytjing and everyone on the internet, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm glad you had the prescense of mind to become aware this was scam. Can you imagine how many who are not that familiar with modern technology, or are in a hurry that day, or are expecting a package fall for this? Thousands! Thousands and thousands! Always be sceptical. If you are unsure, go directly to the source and double-check they actually sent out a message to you. And use a credit card, not a debit card. A lot easier to get your money back from the insurance on the CC. Be vigilant about you statements. Sometimes they will tap your card for $5 at a time, but 100 times a day. Absolutely with the urgency thing….I want those shoes sho panicked for a minute thinking they would be sent back…. Ive had MANY trainings on how to spot all of those red flags and STILL almost fell for it.. |
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,920
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Dec 19, 2021 17:36:28 GMT
I had a guy call last month saying DD had signed up for some study guide for the SAT's, he had her name, high school and our address, and she did take the PSAT this fall... Since she's only 16, and her info is not online I have no idea how he knew all that  |
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Post by padresfan619 on Dec 19, 2021 18:13:54 GMT
I almost got tricked by a similar text about a USPS delivery. My mother in law loves to ship things to us without telling us about it so when I got the text I almost clicked the link. Luckily I thought to google the full text first and a few news articles popped up warning that it was a scam.
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