Because of the ease and comfort it provides, online shopping has grown into a multibillion dollar industry. Consumers in every corner of the globe now routinely turn to their favourite online retailers for anything from fashion accessories to toilet paper, and they are even ready to wait several days for their orders to arrive.
Scammers have started preying on texting subscribers to take advantage of this vulnerability. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to the US9514961195221 text scam or a similar scheme, keep reading to learn how to protect yourself and your money.
How does a Text Message Scam Work?
Scammers use text messages to conduct a variety of fraudulent schemes, including the increasingly common text message scam (or “smishing”), which is akin to the more well-known “vishing.”
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Scammers send unwanted messages posing as official USPS communications, requesting recipients to click on a link that takes them to a website. When a user clicks on the link, they are taken to a fake website designed to collect their personal information while making it look like it came from a reputable source.
Users’ names, addresses, birthdays, passwords, and payment details can be retrieved. Scammers make use of this knowledge to steal hundreds of dollars from unsuspecting victims.
Exposing the “US9514961195221” Fraud
Many customers have complained recently that the USPS has contacted them through text message to inform them that their shipment has been delayed. According to the letter, the recipient must supply further information before their shipment may be rerouted and delivered on time.
The supposed tracking number, US9514961195221, printed on the message is fictitious. The message is worded in such a way as to instill a sense of urgency in the reader, leading them to believe that there is an imminent and dire issue at hand.
Many people may therefore blindly follow the link supplied, falling victim to a fake USPS website. It may appear legitimate at first glance, mimicking the USPS’s branding and aesthetics. On the other hand, there could be imperfections that make it stand out.
As soon as a user accesses the website, they will be asked to enter their name, address, email address, phone number, and credit card details so that they can pay for redelivery. This data might be sold to bad actors on the dark web, where it could then be used for identity theft, shady online shopping, or other illegal activities.
A customer may be instructed to call a certain number in order to get their problem fixed. Users may be tricked into purchasing fake tech help or installing a remote control tool disguised as a computer diagnostics programme.
When fraudsters obtain access to a computer, they can compromise it by installing spyware, ransomware, or Trojan horses; they can also steal important information and personal data.
The United States Postal Service (USPS), which is run by the United States federal government, is being impersonated in this fraud. Thus, most users who get such a letter will assume that the requested information will be kept secure, making it easy for scammers to make money.
The US9514961195221 Text Message Scam: How to Protect Yourself
Avoiding a text message scam like the US9514961195221 comes down to paying attention. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for in a potentially malicious SMS message.
Indicator Number
As a result of victim reports, the US9514961195221 tracking number has been flagged as suspicious. Therefore, you should know that any mail with this number is fraudulent and ignore it.
But it’s also possible for con artists to utilise a different false tracking number on their victims. Copy the suspicious tracking number and paste it into the USPS tracker tool at https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input to make sure. A “Status Not Available” warning will appear if the entered number is incorrect.
Grammar and Spelling
Companies like USPS, which employs a large workforce, provide excellent customer service because they pay close attention to detail. Messages purporting to come from trustworthy sources but including obvious typos and grammatical faults should raise red flags.
Carefully read through any texts you get to make sure you don’t miss any technical mistakes a fraudster may have made in a rush.
Standard Greetings
Any SMS message that addresses you as “user” or “customer” instead of by name should raise red flags. Based on the information you gave during signup, most businesses know your full name and will refer to you by it whenever they communicate with you in the future.
Even while there isn’t proof that a text message should be flagged as smishing, it could be part of a larger pattern, thus vigilance is warranted.
Pointing to a Link Shortening Service
Scammers’ most common strategy is sending victims to a website where they are led to believe their issue may be resolved. There is a chance that clicking on these links will take you to spoof websites.
Malware such as trojan horses and spyware may be downloaded in the background even if you elect not to disclose any information after clicking the link. If you can, try not to use links at all and instead just type in what you want to see into the site’s search bar.
This will ensure that your communication is genuine. If you have any problems, you can get in touch with a customer service agent over the phone and have them resolved immediately.
Pressure of Time
Text message scammers frequently use words that are designed to elicit strong emotional responses quickly. The intended response is an instantaneous one, before the receiver has time to process the message’s rationale.
Scammers prey on victims’ natural reaction of fear by making them believe they have done something wrong that, if not fixed promptly, will result in catastrophic financial loss.
Even if you receive a message with phrases like “urgent” or “hurry” in them, it’s probably best to give it some more thought before acting on it right away. In this way, you will know exactly what to do next and can avoid a potentially dangerous scenario.
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What to do if I Suspect a Scam Message
The likelihood of falling victim to a smishing scam is great, as these attempts are all too widespread. If you’ve done your due diligence and determined that the communication you got is likely fraudulent, you can take the following precautions to protect your personal information and financial assets.
- Stay away from all links.
- You should remove the message from both your Inbox and your phone’s Recently Deleted folder.
- Don’t answer any more texts from that number; instead, block it.
- Make sure your phone is malware-free by performing a full scan.
- The best way to protect your phone is to update to the most recent version of Android or iOS.
- Make a formal complaint to USPS in order to track out the sender of the fraudulent communication. To help prevent others from falling for this scam, please send a screenshot of the text message, along with the sender’s phone number, to [email protected].
