Financial expert warns: Beware of fake parcel service SMS with customs fees

Financial expert warns: Beware of fake parcel service SMS with customs fees

According to a report from www.sueddeutsche.de, the Lower Saxony consumer advice center is warning of a new form of fraud that is being spread via fake parcel service SMS messages. In these messages, recipients are informed that customs duties have allegedly been incurred on their package and that these should be paid via a link included. The senders of these false SMS usually pretend to be Deutsche Post or similar-sounding abbreviations. The consumer advice center urgently warns against opening the link contained and instead deleting the SMS immediately.

This fraud method aims to distribute malicious apps, read personal data or send mass messages to saved contacts. The consumer advice center emphasizes that customs duties are never collected in this way and advises that you only provide mobile phone numbers if absolutely necessary and that you generally not click on links from unknown senders.

This scam has potentially far-reaching impacts on the market and consumers. By spreading malicious apps and harvesting personal data, consumers can become victims of identity theft and other forms of fraud. Furthermore, the mass dissemination of messages through these fake SMSs can cause significant disruption and harassment to recipients.

The consumer advice center also warns that trust in legitimate parcel services could be damaged by these fraudulent methods, as consumers could be confused as to whether a notification about customs duties is genuine or not. This could reduce overall consumer confidence in parcel services, which could ultimately have a negative impact on the market.

It is therefore crucial that consumers are aware of these scams and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from these false courier SMSes. This is the only way to maintain trust in the market and consumer safety.