IPS Text Message Scam is an incident which has made people question a lot of things. First of all, their online portal is very similar to UPS. The connection between IPS and UPS is something which no one can verify because it is non-existent.
Moreover, this platform asks people for too much sensitive information and as expected, they never hold onto their end of the bargain. According to many online sources, they run surveys and other forms of promotions.
Consequently, they offer free gifts and other incentives, but to get your hands on those items or products, you have to input personal information which is exactly what the crooks want. Identity theft is a serious thing and it has severe consequences.
As a general rule of thumb, you should never interact with unknown entities and you should be on high alert whenever you are using any online platform to submit anything that includes your personal information.
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If you are interested in knowing more about the IPS Text Message Scam, then continue reading.
What is an IPS Text Message Scam?
IPS Text Message Scam in plain simple words is a phishing attempt. The masterminds behind this operation are using the designs and other characteristics of legitimate services like UPS and are trying their best to trick the consumers. They entice the public by running promotional activities.
Note that their internal systems are rigged and the crooks make it easy to win prizes. However, when you try to collect the prize or other rewards, they will ask for your sensitive information. Just like we said before, they are nothing more than a phishing scam, but they have a new narrative which is more relatable to the crowd.
Anyone that innocently updates their information will likely lose not only money, but expose themselves to a ton of danger. Identity theft might put a permanent dent on your credit score and if the crooks decide to use your information to commit financial fraud, then things will go downhill swiftly.
Free things and offers are always going to be designed in an attention grabbing manner. Nonetheless, you should always stay in your senses and move forward only after doing proper research. After all, even well known brands cannot afford to conduct wild promotions frequently, right?
Is there any specific Pattern?
At Cyber Scam Review, we do not just write and expose scams, we conduct detailed investigations as well. IPS Text Message Scam shows few unique characteristics. For example, this scam is very vague in their approach. People behind these attacks most likely have not researched well.
As a result, their targeting mechanism is random and that factor helped authorities quickly recognise the authenticity of this operation. Secondly, if we take a look at the users that have received the text message, most of them are from Saskatoon, Canada.
We are working tirelessly to see whether there is any way to figure out how the scammers got the contact information. As of now(26/07/2021), most of the domains associated with this scam are not functional and the chances of them being revived are pretty low.
It goes without saying that the domain registrant information is hidden. So far, the actionable data we could find is quite small, but we will do our best to gather more data in the near future.
What not to do?
Below, we have highlighted a few things you need to know about dealing with text message frauds like this one. Go through them and follow these guidelines to be on the safer side.
Don’t respond to unknown texts or emails
This is the first rule you need to abide by at all times. Fancy offers or other attention grabbing headlines are used by crooks, but you as an end user should never let a few narratives fool you.
Legitimate firms will never contact the wrong number and they most certainly won’t approach anyone without doing proper research. Note that there might be a few exceptions and accidents. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that exciting rewards will never find its way to you so effortlessly.
Never click links sent from strangers
Sometimes the crooks might pretend to be someone from well known companies or government bodies. Instead of asking for the details firsthand, they might redirect you to fraudulent sites and record your details. This form of diverting the public to malicious sites and collecting details is known as phishing.
Alternatively, the cyber criminals might force the users to download shady software or other programs which might compromise the integrity of a device. So, clear the risks are enormous and that is exactly why you need to be careful.
Do not input sensitive information
We possibly cannot stress this point enough. No genuine government agency or firm will ever ask for things like your pin number or social security number. On the other hand, crooks rely on this information to make money and that point is too evident.
If you are asked to reveal a crazy amount of personal information, then you always have to stop interacting with the other party and report the incident to your local cyber security unit. Remember, crooks might be sneaky in their ways, but if you observe closely, their goals will always be pretty easy to spot.
How to report an IPS Text Message Scam?
Unfortunately, there is no designated portal to report the IPS Text Message Scam. Residents of Canada are reporting this type of phishing to the law enforcement authorities directly. If you are affected in any way by this scam, then it is beneficial to raise a formal complaint.
However, if you have suffered monetary loss, then hiring the recovery agency will certainly put odds in your favor. The sooner you consult, the better the results are going to be.
Alternatively, feel free to use the contact form below to get in touch with our experts. Our team will help you analyse the situation, provide an actionable plan and let you know the legalities involved for free.
Public Response
As IPS Text Message Scam is targeting only a narrow audience, it is difficult to get a clear view of the public response. Nonetheless, on Reddit, people were talking about it and in general, the users did a good job of raising awareness.
If you want to get a glimpse of the conversation about this topic, then take a look at the comments gathered below.
Interestingly: when I started typing “international parcel” into my work computer after seeing this on my phone, it suggested “scam” and linked me to the BBB warning.
Scam. Tries to imitate UPS and get you to punch in credit card info to steal it. Do not even click on it as it probably has a unique URL associated with your phone number and may mark it as valid to sell in a list of validated numbers to other scammers. One give away is that they won’t let you go pick up at depot, forcing you to enter credit card online for them to steal.
Verdict
IPS Text Message Scam is a weird and borderline obvious type of fraud. Their intentions were easy to figure out and the authorities are doing everything they can to put an end to it.
In the meantime, all we can do is help people understand the way this hustle works and ensure that they make better, informed decisions.
3 replies on “IPS Text Message Scam – Caution Advised”
Similar to the comment from LD McKone, except I have received the email more than 10 times now, using the same tracking Number, but often a different senders source.
Claiming to be IPS, but showing a UPS truck on their logo.
I spend most of my time fielding scam emails and texts these days! I worry so much about people who are sucked in, and the scammers are incredibly clever these days. but, the clues are there if you know where to look. For example, this IPS scam asks for a $2 payment to cover import duty; this seems to be the standard charge but a reputable international delivery company would ask for the local currency, in my case Sterling. Just another clue to look out for.
Keep up the good work.
I received an email from IPS saying I had an Amazon package that needed two dollars per parcel
Ignored this never hearing an IPS before