Patch vs Scams

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  • Fake Package Delivery Texts: How to Spot the Scam

    “Your package could not be delivered. Pay a small redelivery fee here.” Because so many of us are waiting for a delivery at any given moment, this text works. It’s a smishing scam (phishing by SMS), and it’s one of the most common scams around.

    How the scam works

    Scammers send the same text to huge numbers of phones, pretending to be a courier or postal service. The message says there’s a problem with your parcel: a wrong address, unpaid customs, or a tiny fee of a dollar or two. The link opens a convincing fake tracking page that asks for your name, address and card details. Once you enter them, the scammers can use or sell your card details, charge your card, or use your information for further scams.

    Red flags

    • You weren’t expecting a text from that courier, or you didn’t order anything at all.
    • The link looks odd: a shortened link, misspellings, or a web address that isn’t the courier’s real site.
    • It comes from a random mobile number or an international number.
    • It creates panic: “final notice”, “returned to sender in 12 hours”.
    • It asks for a small payment. The tiny amount is the bait; the real target is your card details.

    How to check a real delivery

    Don’t use the link. Go to the retailer’s website or the courier’s official app, or type the courier’s web address yourself, and enter your tracking number there.

    If you already entered your card details

    1. Block the card now in your banking app or by calling the number on the back of the card.
    2. Watch your statements for small or unfamiliar charges over the next few weeks.
    3. Change any password you typed on the fake page, and anywhere else you use it.
    4. Report the text: in the US and UK, forward it to 7726 (SPAM); in India, report it on the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu) at sancharsaathi.gov.in. Then delete it.

    Frequently asked questions

    I only opened the link. Am I infected?

    Just opening a link rarely harms an up-to-date phone, but close the page and don’t enter anything or install anything it offers. Keep your phone’s software updated.

    Why do I get these when I haven’t ordered anything?

    Scammers don’t know who has a parcel coming. They send millions of texts because enough people are expecting one.

    Sources

    Watch Patch explain it

    New cartoon scam alerts every week on YouTube: youtube.com/@PatchVsScams

    This article is general safety information, not legal or financial advice. See our Disclaimer for where to report scams.

  • Fake Customer Service Numbers in Search Results: How the Scam Works

    When a flight is cancelled or an account is locked, most of us grab our phone and search for the company’s helpline. Scammers know this. They buy search ads and publish fake listings so that their phone number is the first one you see, and then pretend to be the company when you call.

    How the scam works

    Search engines show paid ads above the normal results. Scammers pay to appear there for searches like “airline customer service number” or “bank helpline”, often using the real company’s name in the ad. The number goes to a call centre run by fraudsters. They sound professional, confirm your problem is “urgent”, and then ask for a fee, your card details, a one-time code, or remote access to your computer or phone.

    Red flags

    • The number came from a search result, not from the company. The US Federal Trade Commission warns: don’t assume the phone number that comes up in a search is legitimate.
    • The top results are marked “Sponsored” or “Ad”. Paid listings are not a sign of trust. Scroll past them and check the web address.
    • The web address is slightly off, such as extra words, hyphens, or an unfamiliar ending like `sky-help-service-desk.net`.
    • They ask you to install an app such as a remote-desktop tool “to fix” a billing or booking problem.
    • They want payment by gift card, crypto, wire transfer or a payment app. Real companies don’t ask for this.
    • They ask for a password, PIN or one-time code. A real support agent never needs these.

    How to find the real number

    1. Type the company’s web address yourself, or use its official app.
    2. Use the number printed on your bill, booking confirmation, or the back of your card.
    3. If you must search, scroll past the ads and check the address carefully before calling.

    If it already happened to you

    1. Hang up.
    2. Call your bank or card provider using the number on the back of your card, and ask them to block the card or dispute the payment.
    3. If you gave remote access, disconnect the device from the internet, uninstall the app you were told to install, run a security scan, and change your passwords from a different, trusted device.
    4. Report it: in the US at ReportFraud.ftc.gov; in India at cybercrime.gov.in or helpline 1930; elsewhere, to your national fraud reporting service.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can an ad blocker stop this scam?

    It can hide sponsored results, which helps, but it isn’t a full fix: fake numbers also appear in normal listings, maps, and forum posts. The reliable fix is to get the number from the company itself.

    Why do fake support ads get through?

    Ad platforms review ads, but fraudsters keep creating new accounts and change their pages after approval. That’s why the safest habit is not to trust any number from a search result.

    Sources

    Watch Patch explain it

    New cartoon scam alerts every week on YouTube: youtube.com/@PatchVsScams

    This article is general safety information, not legal or financial advice. See our Disclaimer for where to report scams.