The holiday season is a time of excitement, celebration, and an increase in online shopping. With millions of people ordering gifts and tracking deliveries, cybercriminals take advantage of this busy period to launch sophisticated package delivery and shipping scams.
These scams can lead to financial loss, stolen personal information, and even identity theft. Understanding how these scams work and how to avoid them is essential for a safe and stress free holiday season.
During the holiday season, shipping volume skyrockets. Carriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, and national postal services handle millions of additional packages. Scammers know that people expect multiple deliveries and often lose track of which carrier handles each order. This creates the perfect opportunity to send fraudulent messages that look legitimate.
Shoppers often face busy schedules and may not question unexpected notifications. This gives criminals an advantage because the likelihood of someone clicking a suspicious link increases during high stress periods. The seasonal rush combined with a general rise in phishing activity makes the holiday season one of the highest risk periods for delivery related fraud.
Understanding how these scams work is the first step toward avoiding them. Below are the most common forms targeting holiday shoppers.
Victims receive text messages or emails claiming that a package is delayed or requires updated information. The message often includes an urgent request to click a link to fix the issue.
Clicking the link typically leads to a fake website designed to steal login credentials, credit card details, or personal information. Some sites may even attempt to install malware on your device.
This scam informs recipients that a courier attempted delivery but no one was home. The message requests that the user click a link and pay a small fee to reschedule the delivery.
Legitimate carriers do not charge small administrative fees for redelivery, so any request for payment is a warning sign.
Small business owners and online sellers are common targets of this attack. Scammers send emails pretending to be from a carrier and instruct the recipient to download a shipping label.
The file usually contains malware that can compromise the device and potentially give criminals access to business systems.
Scammers call victims pretending to be from a delivery company and claim that a package is held due to a problem. They may request personal information, payment details, or even remote access to the computer.
Legitimate carriers do not ask for sensitive data over the phone, nor do they require remote access for delivery issues.
Some criminals physically steal packages and then send fraudulent messages to the victim claiming they must provide personal information to release or verify the delivery. The victim believes the package is delayed when in reality it has been stolen.
Knowing the warning signs can help you stop a scam before it becomes a problem.
If something feels off, trust your instincts and verify the message through an official channel.
Follow these recommended practices to stay safe during the holiday season and throughout the year.
Always check tracking numbers directly through the official website of the carrier. Avoid clicking links in emails or messages.
Create accounts with major carriers and enable official notifications. This helps you distinguish legitimate alerts from fake ones.
Most legitimate carriers do not charge small fees to reschedule deliveries. If you receive such a request, it is almost always fraudulent.
Scammers often use addresses that appear similar to real ones. Hover over links before clicking to check whether the URL points to a legitimate domain.
Keep your device updated and use trusted cybersecurity tools to block malware and fake websites. Solutions such as ZoneAlarm offer real time protection against phishing pages, harmful links, and malicious attachments often used in delivery scams.
Consider using delivery lockers, signature required deliveries, or sending packages to your workplace to reduce the risk of package theft.
If you receive a suspicious message, report it to your carrier and your mobile provider. Reporting helps prevent future scams and protects others.
If you believe you interacted with a scam message, take immediate action.
Quick action can reduce the damage and help you recover more easily.
The holiday season should be a joyful time filled with celebrations and the excitement of gift giving. By staying aware of package delivery scams and following simple safety practices, you can protect yourself from fraudsters who take advantage of this busy time of year. Stay alert, double check every notification, and rely on official channels for all shipping information.
