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Cyber Series
The Text Said: Your Package Couldn’t Be Delivered
It came through at 2:14 PM.
USPS: Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Please update your information here.
She was expecting a package.
Actually… three.
One from Amazon. One from Target. One from Etsy.
So nothing about it felt strange.
She clicked.
It Looked Legitimate
The page had a USPS logo.
Clean design. No typos.
It asked for:
- Name
Address
Phone number
Then one more step:
A $1.09 redelivery fee is required.
That made sense.
She entered her card.
Clicked submit.
Done.
The Charge Wasn’t $1.09
Within minutes:
$89.99
$247.13
$512.40
Back-to-back charges.
Her phone lit up with fraud alerts.
Panic set in.
She froze.
Then came the worst part;
Another text.
Thank you for confirming your information.
What Actually Happened
That message wasn’t from USPS.
It was a smishing attack a phishing scam sent by text.
Criminals sent thousands of those messages, knowing:
Someone is always expecting a package.
The fake website didn’t just take $1.
It captured everything:
- Her card details
Her address
Her phone number
And now, they had enough information to try even more attacks.
Why This Works
It’s simple.
It’s timed perfectly.
It feels routine.
It creates just enough urgency.
And it blends into everyday life.
No fear tactics.
No big promises.
Just a small problem…
With a quick fix.
How to Protect Yourself
If you get a message like this:
- Don’t click the link -
Go directly to the official website (like USPS)
Check tracking through your actual order
Never enter payment info from a text link
And remember:
Delivery services don’t randomly text you for small fees.
The Bigger Picture
Cybercrime doesn’t always look like hacking.
Sometimes it looks like a missed package.
A simple text.
A quick click.
A small payment.
That’s all it takes.
Because the goal isn’t to trick everyone.
It’s to trick just enough people.
And today…
That could be anyone.
Content by 2inOne Security Group | Cyber education