Vaidotas Kirkickas, Operations Manager at SmartPosti, warns that the company has observed a higher-than-usual level of scam activity in recent days. Fraudsters have been sending fake SMS messages asking recipients to confirm their parcel delivery address. By clicking the link, users are redirected to a fake SmartPosti website, where entering personal information may result in significant financial losses.
According to official data from the Lithuanian Police, during the first six days of July alone, five reports were registered from victims who had money stolen by scammers. The total amount lost exceeds EUR 162,000.
"It is likely that scammers are actively preparing for July 15, when funds will be paid out to Lithuanian residents who submitted applications during the second quarter of this year to withdraw from the country's second-pillar pension system. Some of this money is expected to be spent on online purchases delivered through parcel services. The excitement and anticipation of waiting for an order can reduce people's vigilance and make it easier for scammers to succeed," says SmartPosti Operations Manager Vaidotas Kirkickas.
There is a saying that "the devil is in the details," and SMS scams illustrate this perfectly.
"In recent days, we have observed an increased number of SMS messages asking recipients to confirm their delivery address and providing links to fake websites, such as smartpostiz.com, smartpostis.com, or smartpostrIt.com. These websites differ from the official SmartPosti website by only one or two letters, making it easy for an inattentive user to be deceived. Unfortunately, the consequences of such a mistake can be severe," emphasizes V. Kirkickas.
According to the SmartPosti Operations Manager, some fake websites ask users to pay a small parcel administration fee. However, this is not the greatest risk. Far greater losses can occur if victims provide personal information, such as their bank card number or online banking login credentials.
"Neither parcel delivery companies, banks, nor any other trusted organizations will ever ask you to share this information by phone or through links sent online. In addition, all SmartPosti payments are processed only through secure and clearly identifiable channels, and customers are never asked to provide unnecessary personal information," he stresses.
Another important warning sign, in addition to an incorrect website address, is the phone number from which the message is sent.
"Our communication with customers in Lithuania is carried out only from Lithuanian phone numbers, and the sender is always identified as 'SmartPosti.' Therefore, if you receive an SMS from a number that does not begin with the Lithuanian country code +370 or a local 0, it is most likely a scam," says V. Kirkickas.
He also notes that official SmartPosti messages always include the parcel tracking number, allowing customers to verify the shipment's status through the company's official parcel tracking system. The absence of a specific tracking number in an SMS message is another strong indication that it was sent by scammers.
V. Kirkickas reminds customers that, while waiting for an online order, they should follow its progress only through official SmartPosti channels. If they have any questions or concerns, they should contact the company's official customer service directly rather than replying to suspicious messages.
"Scams are rarely technically sophisticated – they usually rely on human psychology and impulsive behaviour. If people take their time, verify information, and maintain critical thinking, most of these risks simply disappear," concludes SmartPosti Operations Manager Vaidotas Kirkickas.