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 Scams in ScamReflex to see whether we sent it.