One recent attempt to scam the public is by an email message disguised as a DHL package tracking notice. Amateurish and poorly designed, even the least-experienced email and internet users should be able to discern its real nature.

Circled above is the true email sender’s address: mce.llado@agribioph.com, revealed by hovering the mouse over “DHL DELIVERY,” that at first glance appears to be the originator.

Several obvious indicators should raise suspicions. Notice the extra space between the words “sent” and “through” in the first sentence; fonts of various colors, sizes and styles, poor grammar, and the unprofessional look of the email overall.

A little research reveals that the “ph” in the sender’s email address represents a Philippine-sourced website that has earned at least 874 spam alerts. One source identified the site as one that infects the user’s computer device with a porn-based virus. The gullible and/or curious who click on the “Track your package” link within the email may be shocked when the DHL website is not what pops up!

After reporting these and emails like them as a phishing scheme, delete immediately.

As widespread and publicized as scams have become, it would seem fewer people fall victim to them. However, Jacob Passy, on March 10, 2018 in Market Watch online wrote that money lost to fraud increased by 7 percent in 2017. Further, contrary to the perception that seniors are more susceptible to fraud schemes than others, more millennials, 20 to 29 years old, lost money to scams in 2017 than senior citizens.

On June 8, 2018, David Pogue of Yahoo Finance, wrote about “9 Internet Scams We’re Still Falling for in 2018.” Two of the most often-repeated ways to avoid becoming a victim to scammers are: (1) do not click on any links within the message; and, (2) even when you recognize the company name as one you trust, be sure the sender is actually who it appears by going to the company’s website in a new and separate search.

The secure DHL package tracking website looks like this: