Microsoft, USPS, AUPost, and OOFOS: Top Scams of the Week
Author: Trend Micro
This week, we’ve found lots of phishing scams in which scammers are impersonating trusted brands, including Microsoft, USPS, AUPost, and OOFOS. Would you have been able to spot all these scams?
Microsoft Award Scam
We’ve previously reported on fake Microsoft support emails several times before. Now, impersonating Microsoft, scammers are pretending to offer free laptops to entice people into revealing their personally identifiable information (PII).
They promise you an award of US$975,000 and a Microsoft 2023 Surface laptop (which sounds too good to be true!), and then instruct you to provide detailed information such as your address and phone number. If you fall for it, they’re likely to ask for more PII afterward and use it for malicious purposes, such as identity theft.
Get FREE Scam Protection
The truth is, there are lots of scams and scam sites on the internet and they’re getting even more difficult to detect with common sense alone. For an easy and reliable method of detecting and avoiding scam sites, check out our free browser extension (Trend Micro ID Protection) and free mobile app (Trend Micro Check).
Both ID Protection and Trend Micro Check can protect you against scams, phishing links, dangerous websites, and lots more! If you come across something dangerous online, you’ll be alerted in real time so you’ll know to stay well clear.
Delivery Scams: Phishing Texts
Scammers also often pose as trusted brands and send text messages containing phishing links. These links will take you to phishing pages designed to steal your PII, for example, your email address, credit card number, Social Security number, and more.
Once they have your PII, they can commit any number of cybercrimes, including hacking into your account or committing identity theft. One of the scammers’ favorite tactics is pretending to be from delivery companies.
#1 – USPS Phishing Texts
Have you been expecting any packages recently? Watch out! We detected a lot of fake USPS delivery notifications this last week. Falsely claiming that you need to confirm delivery details, scammers instruct you to finish verification via the attached phishing link:
- The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link. Ready to ship when changes are complete
(Please reply Y, then exit the SMS, and reopen the SMS activation link. Or copy the link to Google Chrome to open) The USPS team wishes you a great day!
The attached link will take you to a fake tracking page that eventually tries to collect lots of PII. If you were to submit your data here, it would end up in scammers’ hands. Don’t let that happen!
Sample fake USPS tracking page
#2 – Australia Post
We’ve detected fake AU Post texts two weeks in a row now. Again, they falsely claim that you need to provide PII to get your package. Don’t fall for it!
- Parcel delivery unsuccessful. Please submit accurate info at
to ensure successful delivery. Thank you.
Sample fake AU Post verification page
Back-to-School Shopping Scam: OOFOS
Following our post about fake back-to-school promo texts, this week there have been a lot of similar attempts circulating. We’ve discovered that scammers are impersonating OOFOS, the recovery footwear brand, and holding a non-existent back-to-school campaign:
- OOFOS: Gear up for back to school with OOfoam. FREE shipping & returns on all orders. Shop Now:
Text STOP to opt-out
The link will take you to a copycat OOFOS website. (Note: the legitimate web address is OOFOS.com) We suggest you never spend a cent on such websites because there’s no guarantee when it comes to disputes or refunds. Plus, your privacy could be at risk — any PII you submit could be leaked. Be careful!
Sample fake OOFOS site
Tips to Stay Safe Online
- Double-check the sender’s mobile number and email address. Even if it seems legitimate, think twice before you take any action.
- Only use official websites and apps. Never click on dubious links!
- If you’ve accidentally revealed your PII somewhere, change your passwords immediately and inform your bank and/or other companies that scammers may contact them pretending to be you.
- Check if any of your PII has been leaked and secure your social media accounts using Trend Micro ID Protection.
- Finally, add an extra layer of protection to your devices with Trend Micro Maximum Security. Its Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing, and Anti-spam Protection will help you combat scams and cyberattacks.
If you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or LIKE below.
This article was published in collaboration with Trend Micro.
Image source: unsplash.com
Report a Scam!
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
Scam Categories
Help & Info
Popular Stories
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal If you used PayPal, you have a strong chance of getting your money back if you were scammed. On their website, you can file a dispute within 180 calendar days of your purchase. Conditions to file a dispute: The simplest situation is that you ordered from an online store and it has not arrived. In this case this is what PayPal states: "If your order never shows up and the seller can't provide proof of shipment or delivery, you'll get a full refund. It's that simple." The scammer has sent you a completely different item. For example, you ordered a PlayStation 4, but instead received only a Playstation controller. The condition of the item was misrepresented on the product page. This could be the
