‘Customs fee’ delivery scam targeting Mississauga and Brampton residents
Published June 16, 2022 at 11:55 am
A delivery-related text scam appears to be targeting some residents in Mississauga and Brampton, among other parts of the province.
A local resident says he received a text notifying him that an unspecified package had been held at his local post office in Ontario, and asking him to pay a $3 customs fee to complete the delivery.
The text prompts the recipient to click on a suspicious link:
Residents should be advised that the message is fraudulent, and the link has not been verified to belong to any known shipping company.
Those who are waiting for a package and have questions about its delivery are advised to directly contact the shipping company with their inquiry.
This and all similar scam messages should be deleted and not replied to, as a reply may signal to scammers that your number is active, prompting further scam messages.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, which keeps track of major scams and fraud throughout the country, advises residents to never share personal or financial information with unverified people or groups.
That includes information such as your:
- name
- address
- birth date
- social insurance number
- credit card or banking information