Unfortunately, if you received an unexpected check in a UPS envelope, it’s a scam.
Like so many Americans today, I was targeted by online scammers who hacked into my UPS account. A scammer hacked into my UPS account to charge tens of thousands of dollars in overnight shipping to send envelopes from various fake companies the next day with a fraudulent check inside each. Fortunately, I received a notification from UPS about activity on my account, and a few of the envelopes were returned to my address as undeliverable. That’s when I found the checks inside the UPS envelopes totaling over $100,000.
My account was debited $40,000 and continues to climb. This is a major scam that you should watch out for so that you don’t fall victim to both sides. How this Next Day UPS Check scam works is downright misleading.
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Beware of Fraudulent UPS Checks Arriving in the Mail ( )
How does this fake UPS check scam work?
Here’s how this fake UPS check scam works. It targets victims by mail, especially via UPS. An official-looking envelope, often sent by UPS Next Day Air, will be addressed to you, containing a check made out to you.
Unless you’re expecting a check, this is probably a scam tactic to trick you into cashing a fraudulent check. If you were to cash that check or deposit it into one of your accounts, you would likely see it bounce or, even worse, the amount of money taken out of your account.
The scammer will send a follow-up email stating that you were accidentally overpaid and part needs to be sent back. The victim is always happy to receive a check for $12,000, for example, gladly returns a check for $3,000, thinking they are making $9,000 out of thin air. It’s a trap, and the only good check is the one you sent back to the scammer before you realize their original generous check isn’t good.
Scammers typically use stolen bank account information to send these bogus checks, and they hope you deposit them before they learn the money doesn’t exist.
Red flags to watch out for
1. Receiving a check out of nowhere
If you receive a check from someone you weren’t expecting one from, you should automatically be very hesitant about it. There are instances where you can even expect a check, but you still need to watch out for some red flags.
2. The check is for more than promised
Even if you are expecting a check from an employer or business, if the amount written on the check is more than promised, this is a major red flag. Don’t assume you’re in a game of Monopoly and there’s been a banking error in your favor, even if you’ve been told to just “keep the surplus”. Generally, an overpayment means the extra money is fraudulent and you will be contacted to return it or that money will automatically be withdrawn from the account you deposited the check into.
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3. Look carefully at who sent the check and by which bank
It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people skim through this information. Checking who signed and sent the check and by which institution can sometimes help you easily determine that it is a fake.
How did they get your name and address?
It is possible to become a victim of this scam completely randomly. However, scammers usually gather your information from other methods where you don’t realize you are falling into a trap.
Scammers collect your information in common ways:
1. Job offer
Scammers often post jobs for “work from home” positions where you sign up for a position as an online mystery shopper, return shipping processor, or salaried person. Be careful when applying to any work and confirm it is a legitimate business before submitting personal information such as your address.
2. Auction or online sale
If you’re selling something online, it’s a big way for a scammer to get your information. If you’re selling something, say on Craigslist, for example, and you come in contact with someone who’s willing to overpay you or someone who actually overpays when the time comes, that’s usually a sign of a scammer. . The money they overpay with will be stolen, and when that money is returned, either because of you or the bank discovering it as fake funds, it will be taken from your account. Don’t give your address to anyone when selling online – and only accept purchases via Paypal Goods and Services, not cheques.
The picture shows a checkbook
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3. People Search Sites
People finder sites get their information from public records such as court documents and voter registration forms. The scary thing is that anyone with a computer can access this information, including identity thieves.
With just a few key pieces of information, cyberstalkers and blackmailers can use people finder sites to find out more about you. With this initial information, these scammers can call you pretending to be your bank and seduce you into reading back some of this initial information. Hoping to let your guard down, they’ll try to get more personal information about you and then use it to call your bank, reset your access codes, and take over your financial accounts.
Take control: withdraw your information from data brokers
Although it may sound worrying, there is something you can do about it. You can ask data brokers to delete your information. You can do this by contacting each data broker site one by one. However, even if you manage to delete your data from some popular sites, there is no guarantee that it will remain deleted. Data broker sites can resell the information you just deleted over and over again. This creates a frustrating situation where you have to constantly monitor and update your deletion requests. It’s like playing mole with your data. Unfortunately, there is no effective regulation or oversight of these sites, so you are on your own in this digital jungle. And with hundreds of them in the United States alone, that can be a daunting task. This is where moving services come in.
Invest in a moving service
Although no service promises to delete all of your data from the internet, having a deletion service is ideal if you want to continuously monitor and automate the process of deleting your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. period.
See my tips and top picks for opting out of the internet by going to Cyberguy.com/Remove.
What to do if you receive a check in the mail
1. Don’t put it down
Make sure you don’t find out the hard way if it’s real by depositing it into your account or cashing it out. You can use the FDIC’s Bank Find Suite to verify if the check was even sent through an FDIC-insured institution.
2. Report it
Prevent or combat fraud ( )
If you received a fake check via UPS, you can email them an example at fraud@ups.com.
Also report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If you receive a check through USPS, you can report it to the United States Postal Inspection Service by visiting https://www.uspis.gov/report.
Kurt’s main takeaways
If you happen to receive an unsolicited check in a UPS envelope, it is 99.9% certain that it is a scam. Keep an eye out for red flags, such as receiving a check unexpectedly or a larger amount than expected. Fraudsters often obtain personal or financial information through job postings, online sales or auctions, so avoid disclosing sensitive information. If you suspect you have been sent a counterfeit check, notify the appropriate authorities and avoid depositing it at all costs. Remember that staying alert and informed is key to protecting yourself from potential scams and ensuring your financial security.
Have you ever received an unexpected check or payment in the mail? How did you handle this? Let me know in the comments below.
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Have you ever received an unexpected check or payment in the mail? How did you handle this? Let me know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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