Beware of the Scams — Be Always Alert — Use Zero Trust — SCAM Phone Calls from DHL or FedEx — Share Immediately with Your friends

Scammers are using newer techniques and we all need to be aware of it as well as spread the awareness to others

We know about many scams, wherein scammers call in extremely authentic tone and appear as authorities from income tax, social security, or similar other federal or government entities.

There is no stopping of these scammers, and they keep on coming up with newer techniques.

Just in last few months, some of my close friends informed about latest incidences wherein scammers faked calls from carriers like DHL and FedEx.

Real instance of fake DHL call:

The following incident was shared by one of our friend circle member to alert others in the group, just few weeks back.

This friend received a call from authentic DHL number (yes, scam callers can make calls appearing as if they are from real carrier companies.)

“We have a package for delivery to you and want to verify the contact details and address. This will also ensure we have the right contact information just in case any rescheduling is needed.”

So he confirmed them the address and also confirmed his contact phone number.

Then they asked for his wife’s contact phone number. He refused to give that mentioning that they only need one contact phone number.

But separately, on the same day, his wife also received similar call and she gave her contact phone number to them.

Next day, his wife received a phone call, which was from his (her husband’s) phone number. (Yes, they can fake real numbers too.)

“Your husband is in trouble for money laundering and is currently in the court at San Jose; I am using his phone to call you. You need to come down here but before that you need to transfer xxx amount of money, we will provide the details of how to transfer the money.”

Real instance of fake FedEx call:

Almost similar incidence happened with a close relative of another friend, only difference was this time, the phone call was from a genuine number of FedEx carrier.

Everything went exactly same as the DHL example above. In this case also, the wife received a call next day, appearing to come from her husband’s phone.

“Your husband is in trouble for money laundering and is currently in the court at San Jose; I am using his phone to call you. You need to come down here but before that you need to transfer xxx amount of money, we will provide the details of how to transfer the money.”

In this situation, luckily, her husband was sitting next to her when this call came, and the scammers obviously did not know about it.

When she told them that he is home and sitting next to her, the caller even dared to ask “How many husbands do you have?”

FedEx has instructions on their website on how to recognize frauds.

Similarly, DHL has similar instructions on their website too.

Sharing these incidences to emphasize a critical point. Apply zero trust methodology even in the personal life — just as is being discussed in the cyber security world currently.

• Be Alert
• Use Zero Trust
• Be suspicious when someone asks money over phone
• Always cross check by calling back to the official numbers of any agency involved
• In case of such experience, don’t keep it with yourself, don’t be afraid to accept even though you have made a mistake
• Spread the word and alert your friend circle immediately

? 2019 Shashi Kulkarni. All rights reserved.

Read all my articles on Medium: https://medium.com/@shashi.kulkarni