George T., 68
Dayton, Ohio
Based on real scams reported in the US. Names and details changed to protect privacy.
The short story
The text looked routine: a package could not be delivered, and George just needed to confirm his address and pay a $1.95 redelivery fee. He was expecting a parcel that week, so he tapped the link and entered his card. The $1.95 went through fine. Over the next several days, so did $2,300 in charges he never made.
How it unfolded
What made it work was timing. George really was waiting on a delivery, so a message about a delivery problem fit right into his day. The page the link opened looked like a real carrier site, down to the logo and colors.
The tiny fee was the clever part. $1.95 is too small to argue about and just large enough to feel real, so George typed his card number without a second thought. The fee was never the point. His card number was.
What would have stopped it
What would have stopped itA real delivery service will not text you a link to pay a fee. When a delivery message worries you, do not tap the link. Go to the carrier's real website or application yourself, or check your practice scams to see whether it was one of ours.