USPS Scam Text: Signs to Identify It and How to Use Searqle to Do So
Text message scams have alarming statistics, with 30% of Americans reporting losing money annually due to falling victim to these scams. One of the techniques used by scammers is the USPS scam text. If you haven’t received one yet, it’s best to prepare yourself now so you know how to act.
To help you, in this article, we’ll explain how to identify an SMS supposedly from the United States Postal Service, but which is actually a trap. We’ll also introduce a platform that can help you protect yourself: Searqle.
What Is the USPS Scam Text?
As the name suggests, a USPS scam text is a fraudulent activity in which criminals impersonate the United States Postal Service. The message usually claims that a package has been sent to you, but there is an issue with it, often stating that the address is incomplete. Therefore, you are asked to provide your full address.
In these USPS scam texts, you may also be told that you need to pay an additional fee to complete the delivery of your package. The malicious goal of this type of message is to get you to provide information that they can exploit for criminal purposes or to get you to click on a harmful link.
Does USPS Text You?
The reason many people fall into the trap of a message supposedly from USPS is that they sometimes do communicate with people via text messages. However, they only send SMS when users have subscribed to the package tracking notification service.
Signs That a USPS Text Is Fake
The messages sent by the postal service contain updates about users’ package deliveries. They also never request personal or financial information, so the first red flag is when the SMS asks for such data. Other signs that the message you received is a scam include:
- Unknown sender: The United States Postal Service numbers don’t have the same structure as personal phone numbers.
- Suspicious link: It’s common for a USPS scam text to contain a link that tries to mimic the official USPS website.
- Request for payment: USPS does not ask for payment of fees in its text messages.
- Grammar or spelling mistakes: If the SMS you received has a misspelled word or phrase, don’t trust it.
- Extreme urgency: If the text includes a phrase like “Last chance to receive your package!”, it’s fake and just trying to pressure you into falling for the scam.
Other Types of USPS Scams
Text messages are not the only means scammers use when pretending to be USPS. Other methods include emails, phone calls, and fake job offers. All these forms of scams aim to deceive you into providing your personal information or money.
What to Do if You Receive a Text From USPS Scam
Now that you have an idea of how to identify a scam text pretending to be the postal service, you need to know what to do if you receive one. The main thing is not to trust it immediately, so do not interact with the message content. Do not provide any information or click on any links. The steps to follow are listed below:
- Check the origin of the message: use a specialized service, such as Searqle, to see if the sender’s number has any scam reports or belongs to an individual.
- Verify the information on the USPS website: if you have a package on the way, enter the tracking number on the official USPS platform to make sure everything is fine.
- Report the fraud and block the number: once you determine that the SMS is a scam, block the number and report it to USPS and the relevant authorities.
What to Do if You Fall for a Scam Text
If you’ve fallen for a text from USPS scam, you need to take immediate action to minimize the consequences. The first step is to report the scam, as mentioned earlier, it is necessary to report it to both USPS and the authorities. Then, focus on the following:
- If you provided banking information, block your card and contact your bank to report the issue.
- If the scammer has obtained your personal information, such as your address, alert the authorities.
- If you clicked on any links, reset your device to remove any malware or install antivirus software.
Use Searqle to Investigate Any Unknown Number That Sends You a Message!
Now that we’ve clarified the questions “Does USPS send text messages?” and “What should you do if you receive a scam SMS?”, let’s talk about Searqle’s service. As we mentioned earlier, our platform allows you to find out who owns the phone number that contacted you. However, this is not the only thing you can do on Searqle.
On Searqle, you can search for people using different data points, from phone numbers to names, addresses, emails, and more. Our platform is reliable, and its interface makes it easy to use, so we encourage you to give it a try.
