Broward Sheriff’s sergeant warns of FedEx email fraud – Sun

Post a Fraud Alert:

The email that claimed to be from FedEx looked real enough when it arrived in a Broward Sheriff sergeant’s personal in-box.

It advised that the deputy — who does not want his name used in this story because he works undercover — had a parcel waiting for him that the company had been unable to deliver.

Efforts by those attempting to impersonate delivery companies like FedEx are “rampant” and make victims vulnerable to identity theft, the FBI has warned.

Despite awareness efforts of law enforcement and vendors for several years, the scheme is still being tried.

“How many people do these guys prey on?” the BSO sergeant said. “I just wanted to let the public know.”

He ignored the email’s instructions to click a “print receipt” link and take it to the nearest FedEx office.

After getting a second email from the scammer, he said he called FedEx’s customer service number.

The sergeant knew that FedEx leaves a sticky note on absent customers’ doors to alert about waiting parcels.

And, he said, company employees told him that clicking on the “print receipt” icon could launch a virus that could collect personal information.

“I offered to forward it to them, but they basically said disregard it,” said the sergeant, concerned about people who may be less savvy about such approaches.

The FBI says “…e-mails informing of such delivery issues are phishing scams that can lead to personal information breaches and financial losses.”

The Bureau warns Internet users to beware of emails that describe a problem or require an urgent response.

To avoid cyber fraud, don’t respond to an unsolicited email or click on links within it, and be wary of attached files or photos that may contain viruses, the FBI says.

Also, verify that an email is authentic by comparing any link to a purported sender’s authentic website, it advises.

A FedEx spokeswoman pointed out the company’s fraud awareness messages on its website that asks potential victims to send suspicious email to abuse@fedex.com.

One page displays an email that is similar to what the BSO official received.

Another page says customers can protect themselves by never sharing a credit card number, account number or other personal information with strangers online.

FedEx also asks clients to protect account passwords and to make them complex.

The company also suggests customers avoid using public computers, as web browsers can retain personal and account log-in information. If a public computer must be used, FedEx says to clear the machine’s cache or browsing history and log off of websites when finished.

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Ltrischitta@Tribune.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta