Consumer advocates are warning Georgia residents about scammers using fake company identifications to trick Holiday shoppers.  As more and more people use online shopping, scammers are disguising themselves as someone from a well-known company like Amazon, Walmart or UPS. 

The scam works like this: the scammer will get in touch by email, or sometimes a text, saying your package was delayed and they tried to deliver it.  If you respond, they send you a link to find out where your package is.  The problem is the link they send you is not from FedEx, UPS or the U.S. Postal Service.  If you click that link, the scammers can install malware on your computer.  If you fall for it and put in any personal information, like your credit card number, social security number or even your Amazon username and password, the scammers will be able to use your credentials to steal from you.

Always be sure any link you click is taking you to the genuine website.  If you don’t know, DON’T click the link.  Do a Google search for a customer response phone number for the company you are dealing with and call to make sure what you are seeing is legitimate.

Here are some ways to avoid being scammed:

• Register your email address with delivery services.
• Be skeptical of text messages about delayed deliveries.
• Check for shipping updates on the Amazon app or other official sites.

The FCC, Better Business Bureau, UPS, the USPS, and FedEx issued warnings about this scam that surges around Christmas and Amazon’s summer sales event.

The FCC notes that these shopping and shipping scams target young people who do most of their shopping online. Report any suspected text messages to the FCC by forwarding them to SPAM or 7726.