With the popularity of online shopping, we all are getting packages delivered to our doors. Many seem to get something every couple of days, and with the impending holiday shopping season nearly upon us, scams related to package deliveries will most definitely increase in volume.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON SCAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Funds Required for Delivery: Very few packages actually require the recipient to pay to receive them. If you get one of these messages and certainly are not expecting to pay, you can likely ignore it. If you aren’t sure, go to the carrier’s website and put in the tracking number to find out if it’s true.

Account or Payment Info Requested: If you think you may need to make some kind of payment, log into your account with the carrier or Amazon and check, or give them a call at a phone number you look up on your own (NOT from the text).

A Delivery is on Hold Because More Information is Needed: Do not click on the link! If you were not expecting a delivery, ignore the text or email. If you are expecting a package to be delivered, go to the carrier’s website and enter your tracking information to see the status. If the carrier does need more information to make your delivery, it should appear as part of the status information.

Payment Needed or is Overdue: While it’s reasonable that some payment may be needed if you have shipped a package using an online service, you won’t be asked to pay using a gift card, wire transfer, money order, or even cash.

Sadly, phishing email scams are here to stay, and they are getting better and better at fooling us. Just remember, carriers will not request payments, personal information, financial information, account numbers, IDs, passwords, or copies of invoices in an unsolicited manner through email, mail, phone, or fax or specifically in exchange for the transportation of goods or services.

The signs of phishing are the same, no matter which shipping or delivery service you use.

• Take a minute. Scammers rely on your panic, so they try to create urgency. Take the time to review the message, then review it again. If you don’t feel confident, don’t click.

• Closely look at the details. Are there spelling or grammar errors? Is it using generic greetings, like “Sir or Madame?” Scammers will often use typos to trick you into clicking on the link, such as replacing the letter “L” with a “1.”

• Report suspicious messages. Report fraud and scams to the Federal Trade Commission. There is a process to do this online. Your report is shared with 2,800 law enforcement agencies.

• Delete and block fraudulent email and text messages. Do this, so you don’t accidentally interact with it later. It’s easy to get in a rush and accidentally click something…or find it later not remember that it’s a scam.

• If it seems too good to be true… Well, assume it is.

Remember that even though a package is important to you, there is always enough time for you to investigate the above information before communicating with anyone. There is rarely a need to click any links. Just go to the carrier’s website.