Online shopping is certainly convenient, but behind that convenience lie loopholes that are often exploited by scammers.
One scam that has recently become widespread involves refunds for packages that were mixed up or encountered issues during shipping.
The scammer preys on the panic of potential victims by posing as a shipping agent. They then offer to help with the refund. In reality, their main goal is to drain money from the victim’s account.
Don’t fall for it! Stay vigilant by understanding how this scam works.
This scam usually begins with a WhatsApp message claiming to be from a shipping service. The scammer will inform the victim that there is an issue with the package, such as it being mixed up, lost, or held in a warehouse and therefore unable to be delivered. To convince the victim, the scammer often includes seemingly valid details such as the recipient’s name, address, and tracking number.
Once the victim is convinced, the scammer then offers a solution in the form of a refund and suggests that the victim reorder the item after the process is complete. In the next step, the scammer will send a QRIS code and ask the victim to scan it, claiming it is needed to process the refund. In reality, QRIS is used for making payments, not receiving money, so if it is scanned, funds will instead be withdrawn from the victim’s account.
If the victim begins to have doubts, the scammer will usually call in an urgent tone and claim that the refund process has a time limit, pressuring the victim to complete the transaction immediately without verifying its authenticity. Scammers also typically use unverified personal phone numbers, although they often display profile pictures resembling those of logistics companies to appear more credible.
How to Avoid Package Swap Scams
To avoid falling victim to package swap scams, follow these steps:
- Always check the shipping status through the marketplace app or the official shipping company's website.
- Don’t easily trust messages claiming to be from a shipping company.
- Be wary of anyone offering refunds through a QRIS scan.
- Refuse to follow instructions if the procedure seems suspicious or unconvincing.
- Contact official customer service upon receiving information about shipping issues or order confirmations.
When information about a package with delivery issues is received from an unknown person, take time to verify it. Verifying the information through official channels can help reduce the risk of falling victim to a scam.
