FedEx is warning customers about a scam using the company’s name to get people’s personal information.
People are receiving text messages asking them to follow a link to set up their delivery preferences so FedEx can mail them a package. The message includes a tracking number and uses people’s names.
“These con artists can be very slick. They can try to make things sound as personal as possible in their efforts to try to lure you in,” said Heather Clary with the Better Business Bureau of Central and Eastern Kentucky.
Clicking the link in the fraudulent message takes users to a scam website which asks people to fill out a customer satisfaction survey. It prompts them to put in their personal information and credit card information, so they can sent a free gift as a reward.
FedEx tweeted Wednesday, assuring customers the company does “not send unsolicited texts or emails requesting money, package or personal information.”
“That’s why con artists love to use the names of legitimate companies, because they know people might be more likely to believe what the text or email states,” said Clary.
“Suspicious messages should be deleted without being opened and reported to abuse@fedex.com,” continued Fedex’s tweet.
FedEx lists these warning signs on its website for recognizing scams:
- Unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package, often with a sense of urgency.
- Requests for personal and/or financial information.
- Links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses (fedx.com, fed-ex.com, etc.)
- Spelling and grammatical errors or excessive use of capitalization and exclamation points.
- Claims that you have won a large sum of money in a lottery or settlement.
- Certificate errors or lack of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for sensitive activities.
