Urgent warning over new Australia Post text scam

The message looks almost identical to official messages from courier companies - here’s what you need to watch out for.

Australia Post customers are being warned of a new scam in which people are asked via text message to arrange alternative delivery options  for their packages.

The text messages appear similar to official messages from courier companies, which advise customers their package was unable to be delivered.

A preview link even dupes people into believing they will be directed to an Australia Post help page, so they can set up pick-up or a new time for delivery.

One user told SellSecurely.com “A family member has been expecting a delivery from overseas, however, they were not provided with a tracking number by the sender, so it makes it quite hard to keep on top of. They have received the two messages below, which I’m thinking are fake,” they said.

“I got that exact message early today at 11am … I haven’t brought anything in months. They are scams”.

Australia Post advises it will never ask customers to, “click on an email link to print off a label to redeem your package”, on its website.

It also said to beware of calls, texts and emails requesting payment, passwords, credit card details or account information.

More than 133,000 scams have been reported to Australian authorities so far this year, with about 10.8 per cent of them resulting in financial losses for victims.

Australia Post warned people of a similar scam a month ago, which requested customers pay a small fee to schedule a delivery.

A spokesperson told SellSecurely.com: “We’re seeing a greater public awareness of scams and cybersecurity, however we encourage customers to be aware of how to spot a scam, including looking for a non-Australia Post web address and unusual sense of urgency.

“If customers receive a suspicious text or email message that appears to be from Australia Post, we encourage them to report it to [email protected] and delete it immediately.”

SellSecurely’s advice for consumers is:

  • Never click on any links in unexpected messages. Even if you expect a message, it’s best to access the information directly from a website or a source you have found independently.
  • Pay attention to typo or grammatical mistakes in text messages. Delete the message and do not respond.
  • Do not reply — delete and block the number.
  • If you think you have been scammed and lost money, contact your bank immediately.
  • If you are concerned about any personal information lost, contact IDCARE for support.