SECURITY CENTER

Scam Watch: How to spot fraud and scams

A simple text that will never be forgotten

Like every year, I’d ordered several gifts to be sent directly to my nieces and nephews. So when I got an “incomplete address” text from a well-known delivery company, I assumed I’d made a simple addressing mistake.

The link took me to a page with the company logo, tracking info and a date when the item would be returned to sender. I entered my name, address and card details to pay a $2.95 “re-routing fee,” then went back to wrapping gifts.

The next morning, my phone lit up with alerts: $520 at a department store and $1,200 for travel services. Scammers had cloned the delivery company’s website and I’d clicked on the link to their site.

What got me was how real it felt… the timing, the logos, the urgency. It was like someone had reached through my screen and into my wallet.

I wish I’d known:

• Scam texts and emails about deliveries are common this time of year. Next time, I’ll track all my packages directly through the retailer.
• Never click on links or call numbers from unexpected texts or emails.
• A sense of urgency is a big red flag.
• Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to pay to update your information.
• That small $2.95 “fee” should have been a warning sign.

Additional tip:

• I should treat Zelle^®, wires, cryptocurrency, and gift cards like cash—once I send the money, it's usually gone for good and I’m unlikely to get it back. For checks, once they’re cashed, the money is typically unrecoverable.

The alert was for a small, past-due bill

It happened just before the New Year. I’d been traveling for the holidays and used a few toll roads, so when I got a text saying I had unpaid tolls, I didn’t question it.

The message warned of late fees and even the suspension of my registration if I didn’t pay immediately. The link led to what looked like a well-known toll collection site — showing an $18 balance due. It was such a small amount, I entered my card info to take care of it.

The next day, I saw seven unauthorized charges on my account — electronics, hotel bookings, gift cards. Over $1,800 in total. It was a scam

I wish I’d known:

• Watch out for unsolicited texts demanding payment or threatening license suspension.
• Scammers often ask for small amounts hoping you’ll pay without thinking.
• I should’ve made sure I was on the official toll collection website.
• Clicking on links in texts or emails is never a good idea.
• I should’ve blocked the number and deleted the message immediately.

Additional tip:

• I should treat Zelle^®, wires, cryptocurrency, and gift cards like cash—once I send the money, it's usually gone for good and I’m unlikely to get it back. For checks, once they’re cashed, the money is typically unrecoverable.