Scammers use phony tracking numbers to fool online shoppers
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- December 15, 2018
- 1389
When you are shopping online this holiday season, make sure to buy only from trustworthy websites. Scammers are using phony tracking numbers to fool shoppers into thinking their package is on the way, according to recent BBB Scam Tracker reports.
You are shopping online and find a site with amazing deals, often 50 percent cheaper than prices on established websites. The website and the products look legitimate, so you decide to take a chance and make a purchase. After checkout you get a confirmation email that contains a tracking number from UPS, FedEx or another shipping service.
What happens next depends on the scam. In some versions the tracking number provided is completely fake. In other variations the number is real and appears to work at first, until “your” item is delivered somewhere else. Either way the outcome is the same. Providing a phony tracking number allows scammers to stall and shift blame for the missing package to the shipping service. In reality your purchase never existed in the first place.
You may even get shipping notices without purchasing from a new website. The notice may say the shipper is having difficulty delivering a gift package to you. The email may contain a link that asks for personally identifying information or that downloads malware onto your computer. This scam is particularly prevalent at the holidays when more packages are being shipped. Scammers are hoping you are busy or distracted and will click without thinking.
Before buying online, confirm the site has real contact information. Make sure the seller has a working phone number and address on the website so you can contact them in case of problems.
Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails. Look at the email carefully and confirm you actually ordered before taking any action. Instead of clicking on a link, go to the shipper’s website and manually key in the tracking number to confirm it’s real.
If the price seems too good to be true, there’s probably something wrong. Be wary if the item is selling for significantly lower than what you’ve seen elsewhere.
Review BBB online shopping tips. Many online purchase scams use similar tactics. See www.BBB.org/ShoppingOnline for more advice.
To learn more about scams, go to www.BBB.org/ScamTips. If you’ve been targeted by this scam, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at www.BBB.org/ScamTracker.
FedEx Corporation and United Parcel Service are BBB-accredited businesses.
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