Massive Spike in 'Parcel Delivery' Spam Texts

Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:33
Last edited 21/10/2021 - 10:42 by 1 other user

Is it just me? Or is everyone receiving a heck-load of spam text messages about parcels that require tracking, or missed deliveries, etc. I've started to get at least 2 per day and then šŸ˜‘ when I realise it's not just an increase in popularity.

E.g
"Your order # 276513 will arrive shortly. Track progress: http://cengyunclouded.com/f/xxxxxxxx

"Your package was delivered to the pickup point. You can pick | up your parcel <7tf> here http://xcelentlearningtinker.com/j/xxxxxxxx

They don't even try to make the URLs look legit…

Any every one is from a unique mobile number so blocking and deleting doesn't seem to reduce the quantity.
Any tips or tricks for reducing this? I have had my number for yonks and don't want to change it if I can avoid it.

Internet

Comments

  • Hybroid on 21/10/2021 - 10:35
    +5

    They don't even try to make the URLs look legitā€¦

    Intentional. They want the people stupid/unknowing enough to click through as those are more gullible to scam.

    Make sure you're on the Do Not Call list. It helps for local ones but not so much the Estonia (+372) ones.

    https://www.donotcall.gov.au/consumers/register-your-numbersā€¦

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:36

      Ah thank you, will do :S how effective is the list? & how does it function?

      • Hybroid on 21/10/2021 - 10:39
        +1

        Also edit the links above if they're the full real ones. They may be tracking which ones get clicked and thus will spam you even more/sell your data as seen as more likely to click on them. Now if curious OZBers click through 1,000 times…

        • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:41

          Oo thanks done… :S

      • Twix on 21/10/2021 - 10:39
        +6

        Do Not Call doesn't stop Flubot.

      • dizzle on 21/10/2021 - 10:47
        +2

        It tends to stop legitimate ones like cold calls for sales (although, I've had an uptake of Solar offers in the last month or so). It won't stop political, religious or charity ones as they are exempt. And as above, overseas calls still tend to get through,

        It won't stop spam ones as they won't pay attention to a do not call list.

        In the last two weeks I've had a huge number of calls from the "Australian Border Force" telling me there's "a warrant for my arrest, press 1 to connect". I'm on the do not call list, but I even had 10 of these calls in one day last week. I've given up on blocking them because they use different numbers.

        • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:48
          +1

          Dude… that sucks.

        • Mechz on 21/10/2021 - 11:49
          +1

          I always press 1 then waste their time. Never get a call after that.

  • Twix on 21/10/2021 - 10:38
    +2

    I have received about 40 of them. There is nothing you can do to reduce the amount of SMS from the Flubot scam. Don't click on the links, report to Scamwatch and delete.

    Missed delivery, call or voicemail (Flubot) scams

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:42
      +1

      Oh great. Thx though.

  • geek001 on 21/10/2021 - 10:42

    I went through this. Just ignore them, I used to get a few a day like you + robocall from Australian Border Force/Amazon, now probably about one a week.

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 10:44

      Mm yeah such time wasters :( hiw did you reduce the frequency? Or just changed over time?

      • bgbrendan on 21/10/2021 - 10:47
        +1

        yeah i got tons for a week-ish. didnt click and now im back to the odd one every so often

      • Twix on 21/10/2021 - 10:49

        I received most of mine over a 1 month period. Now I only get a couple here and there.

        • dizzle on 21/10/2021 - 11:07
          +1

          I find it goes in waves. If I ignore the call or hang up straight away (within a second or two) I get them for around a month, then nothing for 6 months.

          If it's a new message that I listen to (mostly to see if it sound legitimate), then I get the calls for several months.

      • geek001 on 21/10/2021 - 10:53
        +2

        I guess I reduced the frequency by ignoring them. I think over time, it will just naturally decrease. I didn't bother with the DNC list, since criminals are unlikely to care.

  • GG57 on 21/10/2021 - 10:45
    +3

    I was just thinking how they have reduced in frequency.
    I just block the number and delete the message; takes a couple of seconds.

  • iamherenow on 21/10/2021 - 11:20
    +1

    Massive increase in last few weeks for me - calls and SMS.

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 11:22

      Yeah just last few weeks! Can't think of anywhere specific that I've given my number out to either.

      • dizzle on 21/10/2021 - 11:30

        Last year I had a big increase, that I put down to house hunting and leaving phone numbers at the inspections. There was nothing else at the time it could have been.

  • BargainCowboy on 21/10/2021 - 11:28
    +1

    Mine increased dramatically over the last two weeks, sometimes even 5 a day.

  • Traveller107 on 21/10/2021 - 11:30

    Oh I've been bombarded with them too!
    Have had my number for a decade, am on do not call list, and haven't given my number or to anyone new recently. So really don't know how they got a hold of my number. Just keep deleting and blocking these numbers but they are different each time :s

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 11:37

      Yeah, if they were from the same number, it'd be no issue.

  • Karfaffel on 21/10/2021 - 11:36
    +4

    This is a problem that has really become ridiculous in the last year or so. It needs to be addressed by telcos and government as there's nothing an individual can do. Blocking is useless. Don't even bother as you might be blocking legit numbers that they are endlessly churning through.

    • orangetrain on 21/10/2021 - 12:14
      +2

      Telcos don't want to spend money fixing the security holes.

      The government needs to force the telcos otherwise a class action suit from people who fell for scams from spoofed/unknown numbers may be an option.

    • Embaloo on 21/10/2021 - 12:25

      Yeah what? How does that work?
      Is that the same thing as having multiple people ring me saying they got a missed call from my number, when I definitely hadn't made calls - my number being used by others?

    • Mechz on 21/10/2021 - 12:26

      They're often spoof numbers so if you call then it goes to a person. That's half the issue.

      Maybe if we get hold of all the personal phone numbers of the pollies and have them spammed they might force the telcos to do something.

      • orangetrain on 21/10/2021 - 16:29

        Its legal for pollies to request your phone number from AEC, ignore DND list and spam the shit out of you.

        Guess what, its not legal for you to do the same. In fact, you could get jailed for harassment via electronic means.

  • uzz30 on 21/10/2021 - 12:38
    +3

    Google's Messages app for Android correctly identifies them and automatically files them as 'Spam and blocked'

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.andā€¦

    Less time wasted on spam

  • jizmo on 21/10/2021 - 15:25

    Is the border force call about an international package loaded with bum crack cocaine in your name seized. Press 1 for a scammer?
    Got my first call last week.

  • brendanm on 21/10/2021 - 18:24

    Got about 5 just today for some reason. Luckily they go into spam SMS folder.

  • justtoreply on 02/11/2021 - 16:14

    Is there a very simple program that can delete texts automatically? Something as simple as: if from an unknown number + has url in the sms then delete?

    I don't see why it's so hard! Or do you need to replace the whole sms app on Android (example - with something like handcent)?

    I'm running android. My partner is on IOS. So I guess answers either way are good.

  • AMLagonda on 26/01/2022 - 20:09
    +1

    Some stole thier soles and gave out phone numbers…

    I am been sms Spammed to Death and there is nothing I can do about it, so mad.

    • Embaloo on 27/01/2022 - 19:33

      I reckon!!!

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