(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Post Office Customer Service Supervisor Mark McNees has issued a warning about a package tracking text scam that has hit multiple text users. It’s called “Smishing.” You are likely to receive an unsolicited text message with an unfamiliar or strange web link that indicates a USPS delivery requires a response from you. If you have never signed-up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, McNees says “Don’t click that link!”

This type of text message is a scam called “Smishing”, which is a form of phishing that is intended to get you to provide your personal or financial information. The scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, bank or other company, to lend legitimacy to their claims. The criminals want to receive personally identifiable information (PFI) about the victim (Message recipient), such as: account user names and passwords; Social Security Number; Date of birth; PIN number (personal identification number); or other sensitive information. That information is then used to carry out other crimes, such as financial fraud. 

The Postal Service offers tools to track specific packages, but customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS will NOT send customers at text message or e-mail without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and the message WILL NOT contain a link. If you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS, and it contains a link, don’t click on the link!

For more information about these services and other products, please visit USPS Text Tracking FAQS at https://www.usps.com/text-tracking/welcome.htm.    To protect yourself from consumer frauds, visit https://www.uspis.gov/tips-prevention/mail-fraud

And, to report USPS related SMISHING, e-mail spam@usps.gov.  Without clicking on the web link you received, copy the body of the suspicious text message and paste into a new email. Provide your name in the email, and attach a screenshot of the text message showing the phone number of the sender and the date sent. Include any relevant details in your email, such as if you clicked on the link, of you lost money, if you provided any personal information, or if you experienced any impacts to your credit or person. The Postal Service will contact you if more information is needed.

Complains about Non-USPS related smishing can be sent to any of the following law enforcement partners of the U.S Postal Inspection Service:

The Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, at https://www.ic3.gov/complaint