Episode #799
May 25, 2024
The Post Office lost my Notre Dame University class ring.
I mailed it to Balfour (the manufacturer) to be resized.
Four days after mailing my ring the tracking stalled. Eight days later I reported the problem to the USPS. I heard nothing from the Postal Service for 10 days until they sent me an email survey asking what I thought of their service regarding my tracking number and claim.
Since my ring was still missing, my review was not stellar.
About that time I was expecting another unrelated package via USPS which was on its way, but slow.
I received a text that read:
USPS: Client, we have problems with your shipping address, please update your information.
Tracking Number: US2566901185421.
Click Here: https://usps.epsis.com.
(the above details have been changed and redacted for your safety).
In my grief over losing my class ring and with the other slow package on my mind I assumed that this message had something to do with one of those cases.
I hastily clicked the link.
The page where I landed was a perfect clone of the USPS postal website.
There I was asked to verify my address and submit a credit card number to pay for additional postage (30 cents), which I did.
All the Indian signs were there.
- The domain of the link was epsis, not usps (note the order of the URL).
- The top level domain was .co, not .com.
- The postal service will never give a link for you to click.
- There is never an additional charge to correct a mailing address.
As I logged off I had a bad feeling about what I had just done.
I navigated to https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm (the real USPS website). Using the tracking tool I entered the tracking number from the text message. The result was a statement that this tracking number is known by USPS to be used by scammers.
Oh s**t!
I immediately called my bank and cancelled my credit card. They cancelled my card and issued a new one on the spot. On the bank website I found my new virtual card with the number, expiration date and cvv code. I then contacted the dozen or so accounts which use my credit card for automatic payments. I was able to change my card on all of their websites.
In my case there were no real consequences from the scamming. I was only without my physical card for a couple of days. Everyone will not be so lucky. I broke every rule I have taught for 30 years. Whenever you get a message from an institution where you have an account, do not click on a link. Always navigate to their website on your own, sign in normally and see if there really is a problem.
It is not always ignorance that drives you into the lap of the scammers. It might be haste. In my case it was the haste of concern and grief over losing my class ring.
There is a postscript to this story. I contacted the ring company that makes the Notre Dame class rings and ordered a new one in my original style. The new ring is now on my finger in its perpetual place of honor.
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Good for you glad you got your ring
Hi Rick,
Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago, only it was with Apple.
I had been talking to Apple Support a day or so prior, so when I got a call from Apple Support I thought it was the real deal. IT WAS NOT! I almost fell victim, but thankfully I woke up before I did any real harm to myself.
Afterward I called Apple and asked how can these scammers call me with Apple Support showing up as their Caller ID. The response was “I don’t know!”
I’m glad you did not have any dire consequences. Glad you were able to get another ring the same as what you had.
It is elementary for the bad guys to set caller ID to say anything at all. I am happy you bailed before they talked you into giving a credit card. Timing in this case was purely coincidental to your Apple tech call. BTW, Apple will always ask you if they can charge the card in you Apple ID for legitimate fees. They will also inform you ahead of time if a fee will be charged. Good Job Chela.
Thanks Rick. It was scary though. I came so close to being a victim.
Hi Rick! It just happened to me today! I’m always so careful! Had my credit card compromised last week by someone who got my number. I received a new card 2 days ago. Today I received notice that my iCloud auto renewal did not go through.when they tried it at the beginning of the month. I would soon have my account closed. I knew my account was to be renewed this month, so it all sounded logical. In order to pay what I owed, I gave them all my credit card info for my new card. I clicked SUBMIT and I knew I had been had when the response came back “WELCOME TO THE CLUB!” With options to join one of 4 clubs. I quickly checked my account and within 5 minutes, there were 4 unauthorized charges. I blocked my acct immediately and called my credit card company. I could kick myself for falling for it, but when I saw that you, Rick, fell for something because of similar reasons, I’ve decided not to be so hard on myself. I now believe it can happen to anyone!
It can happen to anyone Elaine and does on a daily basis. Congratulations on your recovery. The credit card companies are very good at working with us now.
Hi Rick;
We ALMOST fell for a fake PayPal scam several months ago, and a friend of ours came within inches of pulling funds out of her checking account because of a similar scam. I appreciate your retelling the incident with your ring, and it helps us to stay on our toes when it comes to these ‘alerts’. What a devious endeavor these scams are, and I wish them all the worst possible things happen to them for their deception, dishonesty, and just plain thievery.
As skilled as some of these bad guys are, it is ashamed they are not making instead of taking.
Yes, the same thing happened to me. I wrote an article about. It for about it in my retired teacher newsletter and I will send it to you. Currently my computer is at the Apple Store being repaired because of some anomaly in the screen, but thank God for AppleCare. I’m using voice typing on my phone right now, but in a week or so I’ll give you the details of my scam, It actually made me happy to see that this Happened to you. That’s a terrible thing to say, but I just felt so stupid and ridiculous. I felt redeemed reading your story. I sure enjoy reading your posts.