Postal Email Scam Alert
Amid the scam of President Obama paying your utility bills, there is the scam that says you owe the USPS money or they have intercepted a package that is to be delivered to you.
The email looks like it is coming from the United States Postal Service, but it is not. Customers are directed to click on a link that will take them to a website. Once there, a virus is uploaded to your computer.
Once the virus is on the computer, it can be a key logger, or password miner, or a number of other things in an effort to get your personal information and financial information. Below is the notice posted by the US Postal Inspection Service.
BEWARE OF SPAM!
BOGUS E-M AILS SENT TO POSTAL CUSTOM ERS
Some postal customers are receiving bogus e-mails about a package delivery or online postage
charges. The e-mails contain a link or attachment that, when opened, installs a malicious virus
that can steal personal information from your PC.The e-mails claim to be from the U.S. Postal Service and contain fraudulent information about
an attempted or intercepted package delivery or online postage charges. You are instructed to
click on a link or open an attachment.But Postal Inspectors warn: Do not click on the link or open the attachment!
Like most viruses sent by e-mail, clicking on the link or opening the attachment will activate a
virus that can steal information—such as your user name, password, and financial account
information.What to do? Simply delete the message without taking any further action. The Postal Inspection
Service is working hard to resolve the issue and shut down the malicious program.If you have questions about a delivery or wish to report spam, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS or
email spam@uspis.gov.
Chances are that most people getting this email do not even have a package coming their way, nor do they have reason to expect one. It is a little surprise that could cost them their sanity. If you receive any type of email that seems like it may not be legit, just delete it. If it says it comes from a government agency, business, or a person, contact them directly via phone or in person. They will tell you whether it is real or not. And of course, you should only be expecting a package if you bought something or your family remembered to send you a birthday present!
Make sure that your virus software is up to date as well. Email scams are not the only way hackers upload viruses. Some websites have been hacked and will make your computer ill, as well as clicking on ads on some websites.
