Microsoft, USPS, AUPost, and OOFOS: Top Scams of the Week
Author: Trend Micro
This week, we’ve found lots of phishing scams in which scammers are impersonating trusted brands, including Microsoft, USPS, AUPost, and OOFOS. Would you have been able to spot all these scams?
Microsoft Award Scam
We’ve previously reported on fake Microsoft support emails several times before. Now, impersonating Microsoft, scammers are pretending to offer free laptops to entice people into revealing their personally identifiable information (PII).
They promise you an award of US$975,000 and a Microsoft 2023 Surface laptop (which sounds too good to be true!), and then instruct you to provide detailed information such as your address and phone number. If you fall for it, they’re likely to ask for more PII afterward and use it for malicious purposes, such as identity theft.
Get FREE Scam Protection
The truth is, there are lots of scams and scam sites on the internet and they’re getting even more difficult to detect with common sense alone. For an easy and reliable method of detecting and avoiding scam sites, check out our free browser extension (Trend Micro ID Protection) and free mobile app (Trend Micro Check).
Both ID Protection and Trend Micro Check can protect you against scams, phishing links, dangerous websites, and lots more! If you come across something dangerous online, you’ll be alerted in real time so you’ll know to stay well clear.
Delivery Scams: Phishing Texts
Scammers also often pose as trusted brands and send text messages containing phishing links. These links will take you to phishing pages designed to steal your PII, for example, your email address, credit card number, Social Security number, and more.
Once they have your PII, they can commit any number of cybercrimes, including hacking into your account or committing identity theft. One of the scammers’ favorite tactics is pretending to be from delivery companies.
#1 – USPS Phishing Texts
Have you been expecting any packages recently? Watch out! We detected a lot of fake USPS delivery notifications this last week. Falsely claiming that you need to confirm delivery details, scammers instruct you to finish verification via the attached phishing link:
- The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse and cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link. Ready to ship when changes are complete
(Please reply Y, then exit the SMS, and reopen the SMS activation link. Or copy the link to Google Chrome to open) The USPS team wishes you a great day!
The attached link will take you to a fake tracking page that eventually tries to collect lots of PII. If you were to submit your data here, it would end up in scammers’ hands. Don’t let that happen!
Sample fake USPS tracking page
#2 – Australia Post
We’ve detected fake AU Post texts two weeks in a row now. Again, they falsely claim that you need to provide PII to get your package. Don’t fall for it!
- Parcel delivery unsuccessful. Please submit accurate info at
to ensure successful delivery. Thank you.
Sample fake AU Post verification page
Back-to-School Shopping Scam: OOFOS
Following our post about fake back-to-school promo texts, this week there have been a lot of similar attempts circulating. We’ve discovered that scammers are impersonating OOFOS, the recovery footwear brand, and holding a non-existent back-to-school campaign:
- OOFOS: Gear up for back to school with OOfoam. FREE shipping & returns on all orders. Shop Now:
Text STOP to opt-out
The link will take you to a copycat OOFOS website. (Note: the legitimate web address is OOFOS.com) We suggest you never spend a cent on such websites because there’s no guarantee when it comes to disputes or refunds. Plus, your privacy could be at risk — any PII you submit could be leaked. Be careful!
Sample fake OOFOS site
Tips to Stay Safe Online
- Double-check the sender’s mobile number and email address. Even if it seems legitimate, think twice before you take any action.
- Only use official websites and apps. Never click on dubious links!
- If you’ve accidentally revealed your PII somewhere, change your passwords immediately and inform your bank and/or other companies that scammers may contact them pretending to be you.
- Check if any of your PII has been leaked and secure your social media accounts using Trend Micro ID Protection.
- Finally, add an extra layer of protection to your devices with Trend Micro Maximum Security. Its Web Threat Protection, Ransomware Protection, Anti-phishing, and Anti-spam Protection will help you combat scams and cyberattacks.
If you’ve found this article an interesting and/or helpful read, please SHARE it with friends and family to help keep the online community secure and protected. Also, please consider leaving a comment or LIKE below.
This article was published in collaboration with Trend Micro.
Image source: unsplash.com
Report a Scam!
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
Scam Categories
Help & Info
Top Safety Picks
Your Go-To Tools for Online SafetyDisclaimer: Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- ScamAdviser App - iOS : Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on iOS
- ScamAdviser App - Android : Your personal scam detector, on the go! Check website safety, report scams, and get instant alerts. Available on Android.
- NordVPN : NordVPN keeps your connection private and secure whether you are at home, traveling, or streaming from another country. It protects your data, blocks unwanted ads and trackers, and helps you access your paid subscriptions anywhere. Try it Today!
- Incogni : Incogni automatically removes your personal data from data brokers that trade in personal information online, helping reduce scam and identity theft risks without the hassle of manual opt-outs. Reclaim your privacy now!
Popular Stories
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
How do I recover my crypto after it’s stolen? What happens if your crypto wallet is compromised? Can stolen crypto be traced, and can police actually recover crypto in 2026? These are the questions most people ask within minutes of realizing their wallet has been drained. Crypto theft is fast, quiet, and unforgiving. By the time most victims notice something is wrong, the funds are already moving across the blockchain. Once seen as a problem for exchanges and whales, crypto theft now heavily affects everyday investors. Phishing links, fake support chats, wallet approval scams, SIM swaps, and malware attacks have become common. Knowing what recovery realistically looks like—and what it doesn’t—can prevent panic, bad decisions, and costly follow-up scams. In a Nutshell Crypto recovery is possible, but only in limited situations Blockchain transactions are irreversible, but stolen crypto can still be traced Speed and documentation matter more than optimism Police and exchanges play a bigger role than private recovery services Guaranteed recovery offers are almost always scams Is it Actually Possible to Recover Stolen Crypto? Yes, crypto recovery is possible, but only under specific conditions and rarely through direct action by the victim. Blockchain transactions are final by design. Once crypto is sent and confirmed, it cannot be reversed. There is no central authority, no chargeback process, and no technical “undo” button, even if the transaction was clearly fraudulent. This is where many people ask whether stolen crypto can be traced. In most cases, it can. Every transaction