Scammers pose as delivery drivers and trick people out of their money
Looking for a carrier for a trip or to ship cargo can end up costing you money. Scammers create fake ads and pages, mimic the appearance of legitimate transportation companies, and try to get customers to pay as quickly as possible.
Law enforcement officials advise against rushing to pay and recommend first verifying exactly who you are sending money to.
Scammers may create ads for passenger or freight transportation and pose as legitimate carriers. To build trust, they use photos of real buses and trucks, logos of well-known companies, other companies’ branding, and customer reviews. Some fake pages look almost identical to official websites.
Once a customer contacts them, the scammers try to prevent the person from having time to verify the details. They may claim that only a few seats are left, that an urgent reservation is required, or that transportation can only be arranged upon immediate payment. “Once a customer contacts them, the scammers apply psychological pressure aimed at forcing the person to act quickly and recklessly,” the Cyber Police warned.
The scammers then ask for an advance payment or full payment for the service. They may demand that the money be transferred to a bank card or the account of an individual. Once the funds are received, the fake carrier may stop responding. The ad or webpage may also disappear quickly. Sometimes the scam doesn’t end there. After the first transfer, the scammers come up with new reasons for payment—for example, an additional service, processing paperwork, or other supposedly necessary expenses.
What Should Raise Red Flags
The cyber police advise paying attention to several red flags. A price that is too low compared to other offers may be suspicious. If a carrier offers a significantly cheaper trip or delivery, it’s worth checking why their price differs from the market rate.
Another red flag is a demand for an urgent prepayment. If you’re constantly being rushed and told that the offer is valid for only a few minutes or that there are almost no seats left, it’s best to pause and verify the information. You should also be wary if the carrier is unwilling to provide basic information about the vehicle, route, travel conditions, or their contact details.
You should also be cautious when communication takes place exclusively via a messaging app, and it’s impossible to verify the company or person through other sources. Another risk is additional fees. If, after confirming your booking, new reasons suddenly arise for you to pay, this could be a sign of fraud.
How to Verify a Carrier
Before paying, the Cyber Police advise you to independently verify the carrier’s information. In particular, check when their page or ad was created, whether there are genuine reviews, and whether the company has a track record. Don’t rely solely on the information the carrier sends via messenger. If the company is legitimate, its operations can usually be verified through other sources.
“If a carrier demands an advance payment, make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate company or individual whose operations can be verified,” the Cyber Police emphasized. Law enforcement officials also advise against clicking on suspicious links for booking or payment. Scammers can create phishing sites that mimic the appearance of legitimate payment services. Through such pages, they attempt to obtain credit card information.
What Information Should Not Be Shared
Even if a person has already arranged transportation, they should not disclose their bank card’s CVV code, one-time passwords received via SMS, or other verification codes to third parties. If, during the conversation, you’re constantly pressured to pay, told there’s a shortage of seats, or promised a “today-only” special price, it’s best to take a step back.
The simplest rule is: don’t pay until you’ve verified the carrier. If you have already fallen victim to a scam or noticed a suspicious ad for passenger or freight transportation, you can report it to the Cyber Police via the online form or by calling 102 or 112. The Cyber Police have issued a warning about this new scam.
