As “Black Friday” approaches, many businesses have already launched significant discounts online, and people are busy sending Thanksgiving gifts. However, the holiday season is also a peak time for parcel theft and related scams, causing great concern among Americans.
After many shoppers make online purchases, thieves may take advantage of the goods being delivered to your doorstep and steal them. Some even go as far as tracking delivery trucks in cars to seize the opportunity to commit theft.
According to data from “Capital One Shopping Research,” 10% of holiday shoppers have experienced parcel theft during the holiday season, with 88% of holiday shoppers worrying about their online purchases being stolen. Additionally, 66% of shoppers expect parcel theft to increase after “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday.”
In 2023, Americans experienced a staggering 1.19 billion stolen packages, resulting in a loss of $13.4 billion. For 50% of online shoppers, worrying about parcel theft has become commonplace. Over the past year, more than 35% of Americans have had packages stolen, and among those who experienced this, 75% fell victim to parcel theft again in the past year.
The likelihood of urban residents experiencing parcel theft is 35.9% higher than the national average. The worst-hit areas for parcel theft nationwide last year included urban areas such as Seattle, Memphis, San Diego, Birmingham, and Denver.
As of June this year, California, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina have elevated parcel theft from a misdemeanor to a felony. Stealing mail or packages delivered by the postal service is considered a felony in all 50 states across the U.S.
Apart from parcel theft, parcel scams are also a nightmare for Americans.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) this week updated its holiday scam alerts, highlighting common tactics used in parcel scams.
For instance, scammers may impersonate postal workers, requesting address verification for parcels, and then asking you to pay a $1.99 delivery fee using a credit card. They may provide tracking numbers, payment prompts, and other information, all designed to deceive. Once you provide payment or any personal information, you immediately risk identity theft.
The methods of parcel scams are numerous. Scammers also frequently send text messages, claiming issues like an unknown address for a package and requesting personal information verification. Sometimes scammers detect your shopping activities on a platform, use deceptive URLs to trick you, and extract your bank account information.
Scammers may leave notes on your door claiming missed delivery times or other similar scenarios, prompting you to call or visit a website to reschedule delivery, all with the intent of obtaining personal information.
Scammers might send text messages asking you to reschedule delivery times or make a small payment for delivery. Clicking on the links provided could download malicious software disguised as information onto your computer or phone, thereby exposing your personal data and passwords.
In terms of online shopping and parcel delivery, how can you avoid falling victim to these troubles? The BBB, FBI, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services have provided the following important tips:
1. Understand how legitimate shopping websites communicate. These sites will not ask for social security numbers, credit card information, or login details via email or text but typically use dedicated sections on their websites to convey delivery information to shoppers.
2. Thoroughly check sender information. Even if the name displayed in a text or email seems ordinary, scammers often use subtle spelling variations to set up traps. Therefore, be extremely cautious about links provided in emails or text messages and avoid clicking on them casually.
3. Be cautious about unsolicited contact. If you receive calls or messages from unfamiliar individuals after shopping, do not engage with them and use the contact details listed on the official website instead. Also, refrain from scanning QR codes on mysterious packages delivered to your doorstep, as scammers can use these codes to extract personal information from residents.
4. To prevent “porch pirates,” install high-definition cameras at home to monitor suspicious individuals in front of your door at all times. When shopping online, it’s advisable to sign up for delivery notifications from courier companies, keep track of delivery times, request delivery alerts from the courier company, and ensure someone is at home to receive packages promptly.
5. If there is no one at home, consider selecting a work address for delivery or asking neighbors to accept packages on your behalf. Some major delivery companies like Amazon provide self-service kiosks where shoppers can request their items to be delivered and retrieve them from secure lockers using a code.