LANSING (WXYZ) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning Michigan residents of a text delivery scam used to access personal information.
Residents report receiving texts from unfamiliar phone numbers posing as a package delivery service with a notice from Amazon, FedEx, or other services.
The text messages include links promising information about missing packages, or asking to "claim delivery" of a pending package.
Some texts use language like the example below:
FedEx: shipment 71206 update: on the way. Click here: c7fsvinfo/oToaiibv6A. (using different numbers and links in the message)
While other messages may even address residents by name and mentions an urgent notice about a package.
Nessel says if you receive a message from an unfamiliar number, don't click any link. If you suspect that the number is legitimate, call the delivery company directly using a phone number to verify.
“What we know for certain is that bad actors will stop at nothing to obtain our personal information, and it is important that we all stay on alert,” Nessel said. “If you are expecting a package and you receive a text message from an unrecognizable number, independently verify the origin first. Contact the company you purchased from or the individual who sent you the package. Clicking on the links in these phony texts can provide a gateway for scammers to download malware onto your phone, or to trick you into entering passwords, credit card details, or other personal information that can be used to commit fraud.”
There have been about 30 complaints about this scam, according to AG Nessel's office.
The Federal Trade Commission suggests three ways to report unwanted text messages:
- Report it on the messaging app. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
- If you are an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or Sprint subscriber, copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), free of charge.
- Report it online to the Federal Trade Commission.
