Thieves using scam texts to steal high-tech gifts

SALT LAKE CITY — Thieves are working overtime to get expensive gifts off the porch this holiday season. Specifically, more AT&T-linked iPhones are being stolen in this manner.

AT&T is part of this story because they are one of the few telecoms that don’t require a delivery signature.

Some of the thieves are using stolen tracking numbers to do it.

And if this is their method, they may have gotten your tracking number from you via a scam text.

Scam texts

“They will send out false SMSs, false text messages, that will have a link [with] a portal for people to enter tracking numbers,” said Brandon Amacher, director of the emerging tech policy lab at Utah Valley University.

The link included in the text message will take you to a phishing page. If you fall for the scam and provide your tracking number, it goes directly to the thieves.

You have likely received scam texts. It’s estimated that 20 billion such texts were sent to Americans in April 2024 alone.

Thwarting spam texts

One way to keep your pricey electronics safe during delivery is to opt for non-descript packaging upon delivery.

“Sometimes you will have vendors that will intentionally use non-descript packaging for high value things,” Amacher said. “You couldn’t tell if it was a package full of hair ties or if it’s a phone or blue-tooth speaker.”

Consumers can also ask all their delivery services to require a signature upon delivery.

Recognizing a suspicious text message is another way to thwart cyber thieves. Warning signs include

• an appeal to emotion or speed (you want this now, hurry!)
• a request for highly sensitive information, like a PIN or account number, or
• misspellings within the text message. 

Other reading: Granite School District to redesign bathrooms