‘Cleaning Superstore’: warning over missed delivery text scam on WhatsApp | Scams
According to the message you received via WhatsApp, delivery driver John tried to drop off something at your home from a company called Cleaning Store, but you missed it.
While you don’t remember receiving anything from the company, the text appears to have come from a legitimate WhatsApp account, so you try to reorder the delivery by clicking on the link provided.
You will then be asked to pay a few pounds and provide your personal information to have the package re-delivered.
The text is a scam but losing the money you paid with fake fees will be the least of your worries as the scam is designed to hijack your bank and personal information.
The Cleaning Shop message, which recently appeared on phones in the UK, mimics a long-running scam by claiming the recipient has missed a delivery.
Where it differs is that the text appears to come from The Cleaning Shop, a legitimate business based in the United Arab Emirates.
Which? Lisa Webb, an attorney with the consumer group, says the criminals appear to have hacked a real account.
“Since the messages appear to come from a verified legitimate business account, recipients will likely be more likely to trust them than a message that is unverified or comes from a random number,” says Webb.
Even if you just enter your name, address, and email address, you can leave yourself open to future scams.
Legitimate Cleaning Shop in UAE did not respond to a request for comment.
what does it look like
“PRCL/GB We’re sorry we missed you today! Our delivery driver John tried to reach you but was unsuccessful. Visit [phishing link] To re-deliver,” the WhatsApp message says.
When you click on the link you will be asked for personal information such as your name and address and will be asked to pay a small fee for re-delivery.
A person received a message on Trustpilot saying they were redirected to a fake Evri delivery page.
If payment information is provided, criminals will be able to withdraw money as they wish. They usually do this in small amounts over a long period of time to avoid raising suspicion.
Or they may try to collect a large sum of money and hope it passes at a time when you spend a lot and may not notice, such as Christmas.
What should we do
Do not click on the link, share it or forward it to anyone. If you click on the link, do not share any personal information.
If you provide your account information, contact your bank when you realize your mistake. If you get a notification on your phone that a payment has been attempted, tell the bank it’s not you.
“Monitor [the account] “For any suspicious activity,” says Webb, “banks [mark] It’s almost like they’re keeping an eye out for you, so that suspicious activity will be flagged against your account. However, this scam is designed to collect personal and financial information. So this means that even if no money is lost immediately, you will be exposed to greater risk of fraud in the future; That’s why it’s absolutely critical that you report it.”
WhatsApp has options Report the message and block the sender.
