CLAYTON – As the holiday season approaches, the Clayton Police Department is reminding residents to protect their packages and personal information. With online shopping at its peak, porch piracy and holiday scams are on the rise. According to SafeWise, a safety research group, one in four Americans has experienced package theft with nearly a third of these incidents occurring in November and December.
Package theft can cost victims an average of $100 per stolen package, adding up to $5 billion in annual losses. To prevent this, the Clayton Police Department recommends tracking deliveries, scheduling drop-offs when someone is home, or arranging for neighbors to receive packages. Signature confirmations and delivery lockers also help keep packages secure.
“The holiday season should be a time of joy, but it can attract those individuals looking to take advantage of opportunities to commit crimes, such as larcenies and fraud,” said Clayton Chief of Police Greg Tart. “We strongly ask residents to be proactive about protecting their package deliveries and to report any suspicious activity.
Online scams are also on the rise with fraudsters impersonating delivery services like the United Parcel Service (UPS), FedEx, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to send fake texts about undelivered packages. These messages often direct people to malicious links that steal personal information or install malware, potentially leading to identity theft and financial loss. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports a 40% increase in text message scams this year, which now accounts for a significant share of the five million fraud reports filed annually. In 2023, one in five identity theft cases stemmed from phishing or smishing attacks, many triggered by these fake delivery alerts.
“The sophistication of these scams continues to be alarming, and there are individuals and fraud networks that will prey on people’s holiday stress and excitement,” Chief Tart noted. “If you receive a text message or email about a package, do not click on any links – always visit the official carrier website to check on your delivery status. We want to help residents to keep from becoming a victim by recognizing and avoiding frauds and scams.”
The Clayton Police Department continues to offer a Safe Exchange location in its parking lot, at 315 East Second Street, monitored by security cameras to provide a secure setting for face-to-face online transactions. As more people buy, sell, and exchange online, these Safe Exchange areas reduce the risks of meeting strangers in person.
“Our Safe Exchange location offers an opportunity for residents to complete transactions safely,” said Chief Tart. “We encourage everyone to use this service, especially during the holiday season when online shopping is at its peak.”
