A delivery scam usually takes the form of an email that pops up in your inbox telling you that you have a parcel waiting for you, and that you should click on the provided link for further details on the necessary steps to get your parcel delivered.

As the festive season kicks off, we should expect to see an increase in these types of scams, as scamsters know that this time of year sees an increase in online ordering and people sending packages to loved ones.

Scamsters send out tens of thousands of these emails to random email addresses, hoping to get a bite.

Once you click on the link in the email, you are directed to a web page where you are asked to pay a small fee to have your package released. While the fee may appear to be small, what the scamsters are really after are the credit card details used to make the payment.

Post Office issues warning

One of the most commonly impersonated brands is the South African Post Office which recently issued a warning that consumers should be alert to fraudsters pretending to be from the Post Office.

Scams often involve an action that must be taken by the email recipent to provide bank details, send a picture of their ID, or click on a link to be rewarded with a possible gift.

Customers should note the following:

• The Post Office website is postoffice.co.za. Any other web address included in the notice should be regarded as evidence of a scam.
• The Post Office does not accept online payment for parcels, and will not ask you to provide your bank account details or to upload a copy of your ID.
• The Post Office will never call you and ask for the above details. If you do receive a call from someone who says they are from the Post Office, hang up and call the Post Office back on 0860 111 502.
• The Post Office is not running any campaigns where you pay R15 and then receive a box filled with gifts.
• A Facebook business page called South African Post Express, that purports to sell pallets of undelivered parcels, is a scam.
• Watch out for spelling errors. This is often a sign of a scam.

A delivery scam is just one of a myriad of different scam types, and as we enter the holiday season, the scam onslaught picks up.

Be alert and use online resources to educate yourself about the various types of scams, how they work, and how to protect yourself.

Don’t second-guess yourself if you think you might be encountering a scam. Rather be safe than sorry.

This article first appeared in City Press.