The United States Postal Service has a message for locals falling victim to scammers posing as USPS representatives. The Region’s U.S. Postal Inspector Brook Robinson explains that “USPS will never send you a text asking you to claim a package. If you go to USPS.com and sign up for tracking notifications, you will only receive texts notifying you each time your parcel moves through the mail system (scanned by one of our machines). Those texts are just notifications your parcel is enroute, never a request to claim your parcel. USPS will never send a text asking for banking information. Never click on the links. Delete the messages. You can always track your parcel directly on USPS.com.” Robinson explains that “similar smishing texts come in claiming to be your banking institution. Usually they are urgent issues regarding your bank account. Delete these immediately. If you are worried they have any validity, call your bank directly to check or go directly to your bank’s app or website and log in to review your information. Same for the IRS messages. They will never send a text asking for banking information. Delete the texts. You can call the IRS to check if there are any matters needing your attention.” Robinson recommends that those needing more updates on their mail sign up on the website for ‘Informed Delivery’ which will correspond through email, not text. Finally, beware of stamp scams. U.S. stamps are like currency and do not go on sale. If you find a website with discounted stamps, know that these are fake and will be intercepted. Post office stamps are never discounted.
