There's a scam going around Hampton Roads that everyone should be aware of and on the lookout for.

In this type of scam, called "smishing," (SMS phishing), the intended victim receives a text message - purportedly from the Postal Service - saying they have a package that can't be delivered without more information and providing a web address to click on.

DO NOT FALL FOR THIS!  If you receive any text from a carrier that you have not asked for - IT'S A SCAM phishing for your information!

Attached is an example of one that has been circulating all over Hampton Roads. If you receive something like this, please report it using the link at the bottom of this page so we can perhaps determine a pattern.

Then DELETE and IGNORE the text. DO NOT RESPOND or try to call the number.”

Below is information about this type of scam posted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on their website.

Have you received unsolicited mobile text messages with an unfamiliar or strange web link that indicates a USPS delivery requires a response from you? If you never signed up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, then don’t click the link! This type of text message is a scam called smishing.

Smishing is a form of phishing that involves a text message or phone number. Victims will typically receive a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal or financial information. These scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, bank, or other company to lend legitimacy to their claims. USPS utilizes the 5-digit short codes to send and receive SMS to and from mobile phones.

The criminals want to receive personally identifiable information (PII) about the victim such as: account usernames and passwords, Social Security number, date of birth, credit and debit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PINs), or other sensitive information. This information is used to carry out other crimes, such as financial fraud.

The Postal Service offers free tools to track specific packages, but customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. USPS does not charge for these services! USPS will not send customers text messages or e-mails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will NOT contain a link. So, if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link: don’t click the link!

If you suspect the text message you have received is suspicious but are expecting a parcel, please do not click on any links. Rather, report it and visit USPS.com from your mobile device or computer for tracking and additional resources.

For more information about these services and other products, please visit USPS TEXT TRACKING FAQs: https://www.usps.com/text-tracking/welcome.htm

If you've been subjected to a scam attempt like this, please contact the Norfolk Sheriff's Office's Consumer Protection Unit to file a report.

File a Fraud Report

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office was recently contacted by a man who fell victim to a scam targeting members of the military.

The victim says he was approached in a parking lot by a man who claimed he was former military and needed assistance with money until his bank card (in this case Navy Federal Credit Union) arrived. The scammer stated he would need the victim to transfer money from the victim’s NFCU account and he would then transfer the money back to the victim through Apple Pay.

The victim offered to help the man and asked him for his account number, at which point the scam artist took his phone saying he would enter the account number. The scammer took several minutes, during which time the victim later discovered he had accessed the victim’s account and applied for a loan through the account without the victim's knowledge.

The victim said that at a certain point, he began fearing for his or her safety, and went along with the scammer's request until he or she could get away.

The victim stated that after a few minutes, he found out the man had turned on notifications for the loan process, completed the process without the victim's knowledge, and was able to send money from the victim’s Navy Federal Credit Union account to his (the scammer's) account using Cash App.

The victim lost $3,500.

For awareness purposes, we wanted to make sure to spread the word about this scam.

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Consumer Protection Unit asks that you be mindful of who you are exchanging money with and reminds you to never share your account information with people you don’t know.

If you've been subjected to a scam attempt like this, please contact the Norfolk Sheriff's Office's Consumer Protection Unit to file a report.

File a Fraud Report

From WAVY-TV 10:

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office said they are seeing phone scams more often, and now scammers are using the latest and greatest technology to swindle money.

“It’s heartbreaking to see (that) people do get taken advantage of because they are well-intentioned people,” said Cpt. Mike Imprevento, officer in charge of the Consumer Protection Unit.

The first scam is a man who identifies himself as Lt. Dan Glade with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

The person over the phone said you have a warrant for your arrest or a fine for failing to go to court.

The scammer said you can resolve it by purchasing a MoneyPak from Green Dot Bank.

In reality, it’s all a lie.

“The whole MoneyPak card is a big red flag,” Imprevento said. “The fact that it’s purchased at specific locations like Food Lion that’s a red flag.”

That’s not the only way scammers are trying to get money.

“You might receive a call your son or grandson was in a car accident and arrested for DUI,” Imprevento said. “They actually have another person involved that calls and makes believe they are a lawyer and that you have to pay the bail money.”

He said artificial intelligence is making it easier to make the story believable

“They know from Facebook, they know from social media, they know sometimes from identity theft (and) they know who you are and who your family is,” Imprevento said. “It sounds scary but they know just enough to pique your interest.”

He said you’ll never receive a call from an official agency like that.

“You’ll never be contacted in this way by the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office or any official agency of the state or federal government. It simply doesn’t happen,” he said.

Imprevento said the activity is being traced back to Eastern Europe, which makes it hard to track down the caller and prosecute them.

As a reminder, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office will never call residents an ask for money and does not use MoneyPak as a form of payment.

Here are a few tips to help residents avoid falling victim to this scam:

• Be suspicious of callers who demand immediate payment for any reason.
• Government agencies will never contact you demanding payment with a MoneyPak card.
• Never give your MoneyPak card number or receipt information to someone you don’t know.

Victims of this scam are advised to report it to the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office at https://norfolk-sheriff.com/fraudwatch.

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