What Is the BHL Parcel Shipping Scam? How to Avoid It
Have you received an email that your parcel, which was supposed to be delivered by a BHL parcel service, was not delivered? It can also be mentioned that nobody was available at your address to sign for and receive the package. Therefore you have to confirm the address again. This is a scam, so do not act on what you read in the email.
How does the BHL parcel shipping scam work? What should you do if you receive this email? How can you avoid becoming a victim of this scam?
What is the BHL parcel shipping scam?
A BHL parcel shipping scam is an email phishing scam in which scammers send a fake shipping alert that appears to be from the BHL parcel shipping service.
The scammers are trying to link the scam to DHL, a company that offers courier, parcel delivery, and priority mail services. They do this by adding a logo that is similar, but not identical, to DHL’s logo. The color scheme in the email and web design reflects the style of the same company and makes victims believe it is official.
The scam email states that users stopped shipping due to wrong address as no one was available at the address to receive the package. You will be asked to confirm the address where the package should be delivered. In rare cases, the user may also be asked to pay an additional fee to receive their packages.
The cyber criminals behind these deceptive emails embed a link in the email that instructs victims to click on it and submit information that is actually a decoy aimed at luring the victims. When users click on the embedded link, the scam begins.
We now know what this scam is, but how does it work?
How does the BHL parcel shipping scam work?
The scam can take different forms, but mostly it works like this:
- Deceptive emails asking users to verify their address provide a link that takes victims to a phishing website that tracks the information they add. Any information that users enter there is exploited by scammers.
- Another common trick scammers can use to snare victims is to ask their targets for an additional delivery fee. When users click the embedded link, they are redirected to a website where they are asked to make an additional payment. While scammers usually ask for minimal payments, all they want is your credit card details.
How to spot the BHL parcel shipping scam
Pay close attention to the logo that scammers put in the email. If it says “BHL” instead of “DHL” you should already be sure it’s a scam.
If that’s still not enough to convince you, then do the following checks:
- Are you (or someone in your family ordering packages with your email address) expecting a DHL delivery? If not, it’s a scam.
- Look at the email address you received the message from. Does it have the “@bhl” or “@dhl” Domain? Does the email address match the one you normally receive package delivery emails from? If not, it’s not an official warning.
- Can you find your name, address, invoice or other information about your package delivery order in the email? If not, it’s the scammers that are luring you.
- If you ordered from the carrier, make sure the tracking number matches the one you received from the company earlier. If it differs, you are being tricked.
- Have you already paid service fees for parcel delivery to DHL? In this case, contact the company’s customer service department to determine whether additional fees will be charged.
- Have you ever received deliveries from the DHL shipping service? Then your correct address is already in the system; why should they ask for another?
How to avoid the BHL parcel shipping scam
If you are sure that the shipping notification you received is a phishing scam email from cyber criminals, avoid it at all costs. Just delete.
Don’t click the link embedded in the email that scammers ask you to click to verify your address or make payment. If you’ve already clicked on it, don’t enter any personal information that a website asks you for, and use your antivirus suite to run a scan in case you accidentally downloaded malware as well.
Also, do not call any of the numbers listed in the email. If your email contains an attachment that scammers could claim is an invoice related to your package order, do not download or open it. Also, do not respond to scammers when they request personal information.
Most importantly, block the email address you received this phishing email from to avoid receiving similar messages in the future.
Have you fallen for the BHL parcel shipping scam? Here’s what to do next
So what happens if you fall for a phishing scam? If the BHL parcel shipping scammers have scammed you, what you should do depends on how deep the scam went.
If you just clicked the embedded link and landed on the scammer’s website, you should be safe. Do not add anything on the landing page and scan your computer for viruses if necessary.
On the page you landed on after clicking the embedded link, did you enter any personal information such as B. Bank details? If this is the case, call your bank and block your account immediately to prevent fraudsters from misusing your credit card information.
Did you make payments to the scammer’s account in the name of additional shipping costs? Contact your bank and request a refund before it’s too late. Also, if you downloaded any attachments from the email, delete them.
While the above tips will help you avoid potential harm, if you’ve disclosed important personal information like your social security number, you should report the incident to the proper authorities to be on the safe side.
Also, be on the lookout for other traps that scammers may have set for you. Be sure to protect your online identity at all costs.
Beware of the BHL parcel shipping scam
Phishing scammers often get overly creative with their scams. Hopefully, with a little knowledge of the BHL parcel shipping scam, you are ready to avoid being scammed.
If you’ve already fallen victim to it, these tips can help you minimize the damage. Also, be aware of the other signs of phishing scams to avoid becoming a victim.