Fake Chronopost parcels: beware of scams
Chronopost is a delivery service that's bound to ring a bell. Scammers are exploiting the brand's reputation to set up a simple and effective fake parcel scam. The scam is based on fake emails or text messages stamped Chronopost inviting you to click on a link, which is of course fraudulent.
A scam not limited to classified ad sites
Even if these scams are used on Leboncoin or Facebook groups, the crooks want to reach further afield by sending mass mailings to databases of email addresses or telephone numbers in order to set up their scam. The message received informs the future victim that a Chronopost parcel is awaiting delivery and that a fee of €2.99 must be paid in order to unblock the transfer. But this fee is just a pretext; it's actually the first stage of the scam. What the scammers really want is your bank details.
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A fraudulent link that the victim is invited to click on
To pay these few euros and unblock the delivery of the imaginary parcel, the recipient of the email is invited to click on the link to go to a fraudulent payment page. On this page, they are asked to enter their bank details, as on many other websites. However, the aim is not to pay the €2.99 fee, but to steal the credit card details that will be entered on the page. Scammers will then be quick to use it to make online purchases.
This scam is currently wreaking havoc, and it is very important to be aware of its existence in order to be able to identify it and protect yourself. The approach is quite similar to that of the DHL scam, but it can affect you without you even having initiated a transaction with another individual. So you need to be vigilant.
Another method: text messages or fraudulent calls (if not worse)
The scammers can either use it to approach their victim, as a complement to the scam or independently of the rest. The victim receives a fraudulent text message purporting to be from Chronopost, containing a telephone number to call back. SMS numbers often begin with 0899, and are in fact payphone numbers. This is a scam, of course, and there are no parcels awaiting delivery.
Other victims receive direct calls in a masked number from scammers claiming to be from Chronopost and asking for personal or banking information.
And to top it all off, some don't hesitate to pose as Chronopost drivers to break into their victims' homes!
Really secure deliveries between private individuals
If you receive a dubious email or text message from Chronopost following a purchase or sale on a personal ads site such as Leboncoin or Facebook, don't take the bait. Obvy is the only payment method between private individuals that also includes secure delivery and an anti-fraud video evidence system. Choose a secure solution from A to Z.