Shocking new Australia Post scam: Sydney man urgently warns fellow Aussies
As many of our Seniors Discount Club members rely on Australia Post for their mail deliveries, we thought it pertinent to send out a vital warning: Be cautious of a
recent online Australia Post scam aiming to con our hardworking Aussies out of their precious savings.
Australia Post customers are being cautioned about a sly trick in which scammers pretend to be the delivery company, seeking to steal personal information and your hard-earned money.
A popular Australian social media user, who goes by the handle @asaptuppy, sounded the alarm after he narrowly escaped the clutches of this phishing attack himself.
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The video shows how legitimate the fake Australia Post website looks. Image source: TikTok/@asaptuppy.
The malicious scammers impersonate Australia Post via text message, which reads: 'AusPost: Delivery attempted on 22/5; track your package at
www.auspost-shipment.life to reschedule.’
Opening the link directs the unsuspecting victim to a phishing page that is alarmingly similar to Australia Post’s official tracking website. This sham of a website then prompts users to part with their credit card details to receive their awaited parcel.
Thankfully, social media user @asaptuppy had the forethought and time to verify the message with Australia Post, thwarting the scam in his case.
'When I rang (Australia Post) the lady, she told me that she had already received several phone calls about it.
'If I didn't have the day off to check, I would literally have an empty bank account.’
'Stay vigilant, everyone. They are getting smart. Question everything.'
He showed in his video that the email has all the drop-down menus and tick boxes that mimic the tracking site. 'Hats off to them. It's on the money,' he said.
'They really nailed this one 10/10.’
Experts from the email security organisation MailGuard said: 'The email itself heavily uses Australia Post's branding, and aside from a few grammatical errors in the text, it is hard to distinguish it from a genuine email.’
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The email is extremely convincing and looks awfully similar to the normal emails you would receive from Australia Post. Image source: MailGuard.
According to MailGuard, the scam works by a victim receiving a text/email from an account impersonating the delivery giant's customer service team claiming the package is 'on hold', and the customer must pay a small fee to release the package.
Alongside the text message, some Aussies are receiving a similar email from scammers pretending to be Australia Post.
'The email itself heavily uses Australia Post's branding, and aside from a few grammatical errors in the text, it is hard to distinguish it from a genuine email,' cybersecurity software provider MailGuard said.
‘The email claims the customer's package is on hold, and they need to pay a $3 fee to redirect it to their address. If the recipient clicks on the pay the fee button, they're taken to a phishing page.’
MailGuard warns that other than some grammatical errors in fine print, the site is very advanced, and the differences between the official Australia Post website and the phishing site would easily be overlooked.
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The fake Australia Post email takes you to a very convincing website to put in your card details. Image source: MailGuard.
The victim is even asked to verify their address and supply personal information, which would then be harvested, including the credit card details entered to make the payment. They can then even be instructed to enter a one-time code sent to their mobile, a seemingly harmless move but something that would allow cybercriminals to verify the authenticity of the card details which they have stolen.
To help our members stay safe from such instances, here are a few tips to protect yourself from online scams.
- Verify the sender: Always double-check the email address or phone number of the sender to ensure it's from a trusted source.
- Don't click on unfamiliar links: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, as they might lead to dangerous phishing websites or install malicious software on your device.
- Keep your devices updated: Regular software updates are essential for protecting against scammers exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated devices.
- Consult with a trusted friend, family member or visit the Australian government's Scam Watch website: If you're in doubt, consult someone you trust to get a second opinion before taking any action.
Have you received this fake Australia Post text message or email? If so, did you know it was fake, or did you have to further investigate it? We want to read your thoughts and opinions in the comments below! And remember, if you ever come across a scam, report it to the government’s
Scam Watch website here and let our members know it is circulating in our
Scam Watch forum here.
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