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gab13by13

(25,163 posts)
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:02 AM Tuesday

Heads Up To DUers About This Scam

I got a text from the Post Office saying they were holding a package because of an incorrect zip code, could I give them my correct address and zip code. Then they said they had to charge a small fee 0.3 could I provide my credit card information.

Then I knew I was being scammed. I went to the post office just to show them what they were doing. The lady said yeah, the Post office doesn't text people.

The post office insignias makes it look legit.

I felt pretty stupid not to have caught this before I got to the credit card part.

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Heads Up To DUers About This Scam (Original Post) gab13by13 Tuesday OP
Don't feel stupid CousinIT Tuesday #1
I've heard about that one. Ocelot II Tuesday #2
gab13by13.......... Upthevibe Tuesday #3
The United States government communicates exclusively by the USPS. madaboutharry Tuesday #4
I get those occasionally Easterncedar Tuesday #5
Great now what do we do if we get a call from the White House. We know after mid January there will be a professional... usaf-vet Tuesday #22
The first thing I say is multigraincracker Tuesday #6
Just Saying Pesky1 Tuesday #18
I get those too. sellitman Tuesday #7
I've had several USPS fake texts. Delete message and block number doesn't stop more texts. IA8IT Tuesday #8
True, markodochartaigh Tuesday #13
I got the same text and ignored it LetMyPeopleVote Tuesday #9
Not only that... Trueblue Texan Tuesday #10
Right? Beartracks Tuesday #15
I got that one a few days ago. I replied "Fuck off criminal" before blocking them. OMGWTF Tuesday #11
Thanks for letting us know. bernieb Tuesday #12
I've gotten a lot of those. Pretty sure the USPS would just "return to sender." Beartracks Tuesday #14
No shame in getting foot wet before catching on to scam. You caught on to it in good time! You are NOT stupid Bernardo de La Paz Tuesday #16
Get Informed Delivery through USPS. GentryDixon Tuesday #17
I have that too. Very handy. Unfortunately, I have not gotten some of the mail pictured! SunSeeker Tuesday #19
Yep. Same happened to me under the pretext of a "US Customs hold on a package." ancianita Tuesday #20
I got caught too until I saw the .30 charge. happy feet Tuesday #21
I just got the scam text SupportSanity Tuesday #23
I've received a request for a $2 fee to get a package through customs. applegrove Tuesday #24
Thanks for the alert!! n/t ailsagirl Wednesday #25
Received similar crap years ago. elleng Wednesday #26
Just yesterday snowybirdie Wednesday #27
I Get Those ProfessorGAC Wednesday #30
Amazon has been telling me that items I already paid for... Ysabel Thursday #32
Happening here in Europe as well. GoneOffShore Wednesday #28
I Got One Of Those ProfessorGAC Wednesday #29
No way the PO is going to text me to ask me my address. Iggo Wednesday #31

CousinIT

(10,156 posts)
1. Don't feel stupid
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:04 AM
Tuesday

The hucksters mean to trick people and have gotten very good at it.

Thanks for the heads up!

Upthevibe

(9,085 posts)
3. gab13by13..........
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:06 AM
Tuesday

I got this same text but knew immediately it was a scam because I've gotten them before.

I hardly ever receive packages (I just don't order things unless I have to) so I just disregard. Thanks for the heads up.

madaboutharry

(41,348 posts)
4. The United States government communicates exclusively by the USPS.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:08 AM
Tuesday

The only exception is if you have a pre-arranged telephone appointment with a specific agency like Social Security or Medicare.

usaf-vet

(6,883 posts)
22. Great now what do we do if we get a call from the White House. We know after mid January there will be a professional...
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 01:15 PM
Tuesday

..... scammer in the White House. Grifting hats and watches From the Oval Office.

multigraincracker

(34,057 posts)
6. The first thing I say is
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:12 AM
Tuesday

Bob can you give me a phone number that I can call YOU right back on…..click they hang up on me.
I got one from my doctors office. Sounded different even though the caller ID had it. Called them and they did. Not call me.

Pesky1

(9 posts)
18. Just Saying
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:52 PM
Tuesday

My wife said that she has seen to say virtually noting when answering one of the many bogus calls that we get. We normally don't answer any number that we don't know, but now scammers can spoof valid numbers like a hospital and trick you to answer.

Why say nothing...scammers can record your comments and splice the pieces. She says to particularly avoid saying "yes".

Don't know if this is too much paranoia...but honesty is plunging in the new America.

IA8IT

(5,875 posts)
8. I've had several USPS fake texts. Delete message and block number doesn't stop more texts.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 10:32 AM
Tuesday

they try and try again.

markodochartaigh

(2,044 posts)
13. True,
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:35 PM
Tuesday

I have gotten a couple of those texts a week, usually in the early morning EST., for months now. Delete gets rid of the message but block doesn't stop the texts.

bernieb

(63 posts)
12. Thanks for letting us know.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:34 PM
Tuesday

I got a call this morning about "My Wells Fargo account. " I don't have a Wells Fargo account. I also get calls about my "New" Medicare card. Be careful. Never give info unless YOU called them.

Bernardo de La Paz

(50,872 posts)
16. No shame in getting foot wet before catching on to scam. You caught on to it in good time! You are NOT stupid
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:38 PM
Tuesday

I nearly got caught one time when a scammer had me convinced a friend was emailing from hospital and needed to send money somewhere, could I do it please? I twigged at about the same point in the process as you did.

GentryDixon

(3,009 posts)
17. Get Informed Delivery through USPS.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:42 PM
Tuesday

See Photos of Your Mail Before It Arrives, Free

Get Daily Digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon

Track and manage your packages in one convenient place.

SunSeeker

(53,644 posts)
19. I have that too. Very handy. Unfortunately, I have not gotten some of the mail pictured!
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 12:54 PM
Tuesday

But at least I know it's missing and can contact the sender!

ancianita

(38,478 posts)
20. Yep. Same happened to me under the pretext of a "US Customs hold on a package."
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 01:02 PM
Tuesday

The U.S. government services never, ever contact Americans through the Internet about problems. That is what a US government employee told me when I called to check about US Customs communications.

happy feet

(1,088 posts)
21. I got caught too until I saw the .30 charge.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 01:03 PM
Tuesday

and then I shut the window. However, I then got a fraud detection alert from the credit card/bank. 3 transactions were legit but I think the fourth was the scam trying to use my credit card in my apple wallet.

Bank cancelled my card and I'm awaiting new card in a few days.

I should have known and feel foolish...I have IT background SMH!!!

SupportSanity

(1,107 posts)
23. I just got the scam text
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 01:19 PM
Tuesday

Should I just give them dial-a-prayer’s phone number as my best contact number?

applegrove

(123,081 posts)
24. I've received a request for a $2 fee to get a package through customs.
Tue Nov 12, 2024, 11:56 PM
Tuesday

I can't remember the delivery service but I think it was UPS. Anyhow my credit card got charged for bigger amount after.

Watch out for the small fee scam. It could be for any delivery service not just the post office.

snowybirdie

(5,621 posts)
27. Just yesterday
Wed Nov 13, 2024, 07:50 AM
Wednesday

I was away from home and using my phone when a text popped up from ( supposedly) Amazon telling me my credit card was invalid. They asked me to send them the number to check it out. Ha! Blocked them and sent to spam. They are always trying something new.

ProfessorGAC

(69,808 posts)
30. I Get Those
Wed Nov 13, 2024, 01:24 PM
Wednesday

But, as email. But, it's not the email account I use with Amazon. That made me go "Hmmm".
I called Amazon & they said it was not from them, and to just ignore it.
I've gotten the same message a few more times.
I just delete them.

Ysabel

(2,080 posts)
32. Amazon has been telling me that items I already paid for...
Thu Nov 14, 2024, 01:28 AM
Thursday

...need to be paid for again. I keep getting BIG RED WARNINGS on my account telling me to repay for my orders. This has been going on for several weeks. I've been telling them I have receipts. They just act dumb and tell me stuff that isn't true. I tell them that I believe they have a glitch. They tried to tell me again that I hadn't paid and I told them again that I had receipts. This went back and forth again several times. Finally I said just forget it. That I was tired of talking with them. Then my packages arrived anyway...

- It's ridiculous!

ProfessorGAC

(69,808 posts)
29. I Got One Of Those
Wed Nov 13, 2024, 01:22 PM
Wednesday

I did nothing but go to the post office to show them.
Then, I deleted it & blocked the number.
I was super suspicious of it the moment I got it.

Iggo

(48,257 posts)
31. No way the PO is going to text me to ask me my address.
Wed Nov 13, 2024, 11:39 PM
Wednesday

They got a guy comes to my house every day.

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