The phenomenon being examined refers to fraudulent SMS messages that impersonate the United States Postal Service. These messages typically claim that a recipient’s package cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address, subsequently prompting the individual to click a link and provide personal or financial information to “resolve” the issue. Discussions and shared experiences pertaining to this type of fraud are frequently found on the online platform Reddit, hence the association.
The prevalence of this deceptive practice is significant because it exploits the public’s trust in a reliable delivery service and preys on their expectation of receiving packages. The potential consequences of interacting with these scams include identity theft, financial loss through fraudulent charges, and the installation of malware on personal devices. The existence of online forums where users discuss and report these incidents provides valuable real-time data on evolving scam tactics and victim experiences.
