Email scheme threatens charges for a package that can't be delivered

BALTIMORE - If you miss an important delivery, you know your mail man will let you know.  But will they send you an email? Scammers hope you think that’s an option if a package can’t be delivered.  But Angie Barnett with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland says the U.S. Postal Service is just like the IRS or any other U.S. agency.  They're not going to send you an email."

But scammers are still giving that tactic a try, sending out emails with a bogus Postal Service address claiming a package is waiting for you out of state.  Their message comes with a threat, according to Barnett, "They're going to charge us up to $20 a day for every day we don't pick it up."

The schemers hope to scare you into clicking links that come attached to the email message.  But if you click, experts say the links will actually release malware into your computer.  Barnett says that malware is targeted to uncover your financial account information. 

The Postal Service makes it clear this effort is a scam.  You can see for yourself by looking at their website.  But if you need further proof about these suspected rogue messages, hover over the link that comes attached.  When you hover, you’ll clearly see the link isn’t going to take you to the Postal Service page.  In this situation, experts say it’s best to dump the message so you don’t get duped.

And keep in mind; although the Postal Service maintains a .com website, their emails still come from a .gov address.  These scam emails were sent from a .com email address.