A digital scam I recently experienced was a fake package-delivery text message. It looked completely real at first, it said a package was “waiting for confirmation” and included a link that looked like it came from USPS. The message created a sense of urgency, saying the package would be “returned to sender” if I didn’t update my address within 24 hours. That pressure is exactly what the scammer was trying to use to make people click without thinking.

The goal of the scam was to steal personal information. Once someone clicks the link, it takes them to a website that looks almost identical to the real USPS site but asks for your name, address, birthday, and even credit card details “to verify delivery.” In reality, all of that information would go straight to the scammer so they could make fraudulent charges or commit identity theft.

Looking back, there were signs I could’ve checked. The link didn’t come from an official USPS domain, the message had odd wording, and I wasn’t actually waiting for a package. If someone ever gets a message like that, the safest thing to do is go directly to the official website instead of clicking any links. This helps you avoid being tricked and protects your personal information.