Safe Shipping and Delivery With: DHL

1. Common DHL Scams
2. How to Beat DHL Scams
3. Report DHL Scams

DHL is a logistics and delivery company that enables individuals and businesses to send and receive packages all over the world. Founded in 1969, DHL has over 400,000 people working in upwards of 220 countries and sovereign territories.

DHL has a combination of business and consumer solutions, including DHL Express, Global Forwarding, Supply Chain, Freight, and DHL e-commerce. It serves a variety of business sectors, ranging from chemicals and energy to retail and technology. Because DHL ships around 1.6 billion parcels every year, fraudsters have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of its systems and customers.

Common DHL Scams

DHL, being such a well-known brand, unfortunately, has become a target of scammers, who impersonate the brand in an attempt to steal information from innocent people. The first step in protecting yourself from DHL scams is to be aware of how these scams work and the red flags to watch out for. 

Companies Pretending to Be DHL Online

Fraudulent actors have been known to use the DHL logo, font, colors, and other brand elements to impersonate the company. In this way, they are attempting to gain the confidence of online shoppers. They then request payment for the shipment of an item before it gets delivered. After paying for the supposed shipping costs, the user doesn't get what they ordered.

Fake DHL Email

Malicious actors also send fake DHL emails that sound like they come from the actual company. The email may ask for payment from the victim or it may ask the user to provide login or financial information. In some situations, the hacker may try to get you to click on a link to a fake DHL website to enter sensitive information.

The email can also contain malware within files or links to malicious websites. DO NOT click on any links or download any attachments.

Fake DHL Websites

Scammers also set up websites using DHL logos or branding material. On the surface, the site may look authentic. The scammer may then use data entry fields on the website to collect financial information, payment for services that won’t be rendered, or the personal info of customers.

Fraudulent SMS Messages

A scammer may also send you a fake SMS message, pretending to be someone from DHL. The message will often contain a link they want you to click on.

After clicking the link, you’re brought to another scam site or one that asks for personal information. The link may also carry you to a site that can infect your device with malware.

Fraudulent Social Media Accounts

People have set up fake DHL social media accounts using common social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as WhatsApp. They then either reach out to people directly or put up posts advertising offers such as “free Visa,” other free offers, or unbelievable investment opportunities.

Hacked DHL Accounts

Scammers may get their hands on your username and password and then hack your account. They can then place and pay for orders while pretending to be you. They can also take your account details and sell them to another hacker—either as a single account or within a package of several hacked accounts. In this way, they attempt to make a quick profit off your hacked account.

How to Beat DHL Scams

DHL can be a safe, reliable company to use for your personal and business shipping needs—as long as you look out for signs of scammers. To beat DHL scams, you can use these tips:

• Never click on anything in an email supposedly from DHL if it ends in anything but @dhl.com (or other country variation, such as @dhl.fr for France). 
• Look out for DHL scam emails that have “DHL” in the first part but end with extensions such as @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, or @yahoo.com. 
• Never click on a link to a website in an email from DHL other than one of their own. You should check the link’s address before clicking by long-tapping or hovering over it with your cursor.
• Do not click on anything in an SMS message that appears to be from DHL if it starts with https://bit.ly/ because a hacker may be using that to hide where it's really coming from.
• Never click on a link in an SMS that doesn't have a regular number in it but instead has something broad or generic, like “Delivery.”
• Do not click on links in messages that seem like they’re from DHL but have a country prefix other than the one you’d expect.
• Don't click on links in text messages that claim to be from DHL but the URL isn't a genuine DHL website.
• Avoid emails that claim to come from DHL but have deals that seem too good to be true.
• Discard any “DHL” communications and ignore any posts from “DHL” on social media that advertise outstanding deals or contain unrealistic offers.
• If you get a message about a change to your account, try to log in right away and change your password.

Report DHL Scams

The moment you notice something suspicious, you should contact DHL and explain what happened, as well as the nature of any communications you received—whether or not you responded.

Report Suspicious Emails

If you’re using a desktop computer, you can drag and drop the suspect DHL scam email into a fresh message and send it to [email protected]. If you’re on a mobile device, you can forward the message to that same email address. You should also mark that message as spam in your email app so your email provider can recognize it as such in the future.

Report Fake SMS Messages

If you get a suspicious SMS message, you can send a screenshot to [email protected]. You should also include the number it appeared to come from in your email.

Report Fraudulent Social Media Accounts

If you suspect a social media account of being fraudulent, you should report it to [email protected]. If you saw a suspicious post or noticed other questionable activity, you should also include that info in your message.

Report a Hacked DHL Account

If you think your account has been hacked, you may be able to log in and change your password. If you can’t get in, you can reach out to DHL customer support.

What To Do if You’ve Provided Sensitive Information

If you clicked on a link and shared personal information, you should immediately change the passwords of all financial accounts and others that you use on a regular basis or play an important role in your life or that of your family.

If you clicked on a suspicious link, you should also check your computer or device for malware by performing a scan using a reputable antivirus or antimalware program. In addition, reach out to your financial institution and explain what happened. In many cases, they may advise you to cancel credit cards and debit cards and send you new ones.