Smishing scam is making the rounds

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to a type of scam that utilizes texting services disguised as the U.S. Postal Service. 

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan County Undersheriff Lieutenant Devereaux Johnson spoke on the texting scam – known as smishing – after getting the message on his personal phone.  

Undersheriff Lt. D. Johnson 

The tactic has been used online for decades. Using emails, the messages appear to be from a legitimate business or service, requesting that you “confirm” your personal account numbers, passwords or other sensitive information. This became known as phishing. Smishing uses the same type of scam, only sending the message to your personal text and asking that you click a link. 

In the Undersheriff’s case, the scammer wanted to appear as the U.S. Postal Service, requesting information “needed” to receive a package. 

Undersheriff Lt. D. Johnson 

On the USPS website, the Postal Service, aware of these types of ongoing scams, has posted that they offer free tools to track specific packages, but customers are required to either register online, or initiate a text message, and provide a tracking number. The USPS does not charge for these services. USPS will not send customers text messages or emails without a customer first requesting the service with a tracking number, and it will not contain a link. The USPS is alerting the public that if you did not initiate the tracking request for a specific package directly from USPS and it contains a link, don’t click the link. Rather, contact your local USPS office or visit USPS.com from your mobile device.