Cybercriminals often contact people and claim to be from a reputable company to try to get their intended victims to reveal personal information, such as passwords and financial data.
When this contact is done by text message, it is called “smishing.” When it is done by a phone call, it is “vishing.”
Cybercriminals often try to impersonate the Postal Service by using text messages to ask for personal details to complete a package delivery.
USPS employees and contractors should follow these tips to avoid smishing and vishing scams:
• Be leery of phone calls or text messages that request personal or business information — or that require you to take immediate action.
• Don’t click on links in unexpected or unsolicited text messages.
• Be cautious of text messages from unknown or suspicious numbers.
• Don’t respond or reply to suspicious phone calls or text messages.
• Block notifications from unsaved phone numbers to decrease the likelihood of falling for a smishing scam.
The CyberSafe at USPS Monthly Awareness Campaigns Blue page has more information.
