Warning Signs of Package Scams Increase, Caution Advised for Recipients
Malicious Parcel Scams Taking New Forms in France ⚫ By TechBuzz HQ
Get Ready for a Shady Twist
Parcel scams have taken a turn for the worse in France as swindlers cleverly incorporate victims' names to make their threatening SMS appear more convincing. Don't let their trickery catch you off-guard.
Receiving an SMS from an alleged delivery person, requesting you to pick up a parcel that didn't fit in the mailbox, can be a common occurrence these days. With the growing parcel deliveries among platforms, it's not unexpected for scammers to strike at those genuinely expecting a delivery. Unfortunately, some people fall for it and willingly disclose their personal and financial details to phony delivery agents.
Get Personalized Scams ✔️ Scammers' deception has now reached unprecedented levels, taking advantage of victims' names to increase realism: "I have a parcel for XX who couldn't fit in the mailbox, please choose a pick-up point." Yes, the presence of your name can make the scam seem more real and authentic.
Don't Click on Links ✋ If you receive such a message, avoid clicking on the link it contains. Rather than rerouting you to the actual website of Mondial Relay or La Poste, it will transport you to a duplicate site, resembling genuine delivery platforms. Furnishing your banking details on these sham sites will inevitably result in identification theft or financial loss. According to TF1, scammers are able to acquire their victims' names due to data breaches from companies' websites, including recent attacks on Boulanger, SFR, and Cultura.
Keep Your Guard Up 💪 Should you be expecting a parcel, maintain a heightened vigilance. Know that legitimate services such as Mondial Relay and La Poste never use numbers beginning with 06, 07, or 09. The government platform cybermalveillance.gouv.fr recommends directly contacting the delivery company to confirm the message's validity. You can also report suspicious phone numbers on the same platform.
Around this article 🔹 parcel scams 🔹 SMS 🔹 fraud
Don't fall for these signs of a scam:
- Sender with unverified or foreign phone numbers
- Generic greetings ("Dear Customer") instead of personalized salutations
- Urgency in the message's content, such as time-sensitive payment demands
- Suspicious links (discreet URLs or unfamiliar domains unrelated to the courier)
- Typos or poor grammar, specifically in French translations
- Demands to make payments via cryptocurrencies or gift cards
Verify the sender's authenticity ✅ Confirm the sender's validity through the official courier's website or customer service. Be cautious of links offering to track packages, since they may potentially lead to clone sites designed to steal your data.
Report suspicious activities ☎️ If you've fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible. Additionally, report the fraudulent message through your phone's "report junk" feature or forward scam examples to your chosen courier (e.g., via their fraud forms).
- Other scammers may use your name in SMS messages, resembling genuine delivery companies like Mondial Relay or La Poste, to trick you into revealing your personal and financial details.
- If you receive an SMS requesting you to pick up a parcel at a pick-up point, it's important to verify the sender's authenticity, as clicking on the link contained in the message could lead you to a duplicate site designed to steal your data.
- Keep in mind that fraudsters often use phone numbers that start with 06, 07, or 09, so be vigilant if you're expecting a parcel and always confirm the message's validity with the delivery company directly.
