And this is one of the ways to filter random scams. If a legitimate business or public entity is reaching out to contact you about an issue you need to deal with, they will know some identifying information about you. Especially the ones claiming that there’s a warrant (or will be). If that was the case, they would definitely know your name and other specific details.
That said, there are targeted scams, too, so don’t assume that if someone can tell you your name that they are legit. Ask them for a callback number (don’t call it, ask because they might be dumb enough to give you a number linked to them that you could pass on to investigators), then hang up and call the number you looked up online.
Be careful looking up numbers online as well. There are lots of fake numbers and sites out there. Use previous known good communication as your guide for contacting the specific entity you are trying to contact. If at all possible. Also, smammers seem to have databases of scraped and leaked data so will often pull up your data based on your caller ID or other info you may disclose to them. Be careful out there.
For a while (and still every so often), I received fake texts from delivery companies, but they always referred to me as “There”. “There, we tried to deliver your package…”, “There, your package may be returned if you don’t click this link…”. I was curious what I typed in and where that they recorded my name as “There”.
They didn’t send it just to you. They sent it to millions. If even one person happened to order something internationally and be stupid, it’s already worth it.
I remember one of the funnier scams.
They said they were from USPS, and in order to finish shipping, they needed me to pay the tariff.
It didn’t have anything about me. No login. No address. No tracking number. It just wanted me to hit that pay now button.
But even then, why would I pay a tariff for something I didn’t order?
And this is one of the ways to filter random scams. If a legitimate business or public entity is reaching out to contact you about an issue you need to deal with, they will know some identifying information about you. Especially the ones claiming that there’s a warrant (or will be). If that was the case, they would definitely know your name and other specific details.
That said, there are targeted scams, too, so don’t assume that if someone can tell you your name that they are legit. Ask them for a callback number (don’t call it, ask because they might be dumb enough to give you a number linked to them that you could pass on to investigators), then hang up and call the number you looked up online.
Be careful looking up numbers online as well. There are lots of fake numbers and sites out there. Use previous known good communication as your guide for contacting the specific entity you are trying to contact. If at all possible. Also, smammers seem to have databases of scraped and leaked data so will often pull up your data based on your caller ID or other info you may disclose to them. Be careful out there.
For a while (and still every so often), I received fake texts from delivery companies, but they always referred to me as “There”. “There, we tried to deliver your package…”, “There, your package may be returned if you don’t click this link…”. I was curious what I typed in and where that they recorded my name as “There”.
They didn’t send it just to you. They sent it to millions. If even one person happened to order something internationally and be stupid, it’s already worth it.
Aww but I thought I was special.
I get that once in a while here in Denmark too, only replace USPS with PostNord, sometimes DHL or GLS