Keep your guard up when shopping online

RALEIGH, NC (December 12, 2016)…Consumers across the country are shopping for gifts online this holiday season, and unfortunately scammers are using the latest phishing scam to take advantage.

These holiday phishing emails claim to come from shippers like Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service, and the subject lines say there’s been a problem delivering a package to your home. The email may ask you to click a link for more information or download a form to pick up your package. But the message actually contains malware or ransomware that can give criminals access to your personal information and your money.

Thieves are counting on you being distracted by the holiday shopping season. To avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
• Be cautious if you receive a delivery notice for a package you don’t remember ordering.
• Don’t click links or download attachments from unfamiliar or unsolicited emails.
• Check delivery emails carefully to make sure they’re legitimate. If you find mistakes in your name, the company information, or company website, don’t click on the message and delete it immediately.
• If you have questions about a real package, check shipping information on the website you ordered from or contact the shipper directly using their official phone number.
• If you think you’ve become the target of a phishing scam, report it to the Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a complaint online at ncdoj.gov.