Understanding and Protecting Against the “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived” iMessage Scam

In recent times, iPhone users have been targeted by various scams, including the “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived at the Warehouse” message. This scam has raised concerns about online safety and the integrity of personal information. In this article, we delve into what this scam involves, its reality, how to avoid falling victim to it, and the steps to take if you suspect your device has been compromised. We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis along with practical tips to block and remove all scam messages to ensure your online safety.

What is the “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived” Scam?

The “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived” scam involves receiving an unsolicited message, purportedly from Royal Mail, informing you that a package for you has arrived at the warehouse. The message typically contains a link, urging the recipient to click on it for further details or to arrange delivery. This scam is designed to phish for personal information, install malware, or commit financial fraud.

Real or Scam: Distinguishing the Facts

The “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived at the Warehouse” message is, without a doubt, a scam. Royal Mail and other reputable courier services do not send unsolicited messages asking recipients to click on links or provide personal information through insecure channels.

How to Avoid the Scam

• Be Skeptical: Always approach unsolicited messages with caution, especially those asking for personal information or prompting you to click on a link.
• Verify Directly: If in doubt, contact Royal Mail or the relevant service directly through their official contact details to verify the legitimacy of any communication.
• Use Spam Filters: Enable spam filters on your messaging apps and email accounts to reduce the likelihood of receiving these messages.

Responding to the Scam: What to Do and What Not to Do

1. Do Not Reply: Replying to a spam message, even to report it, can confirm to the sender that your phone number is active, potentially leading to more spam or targeted scams.
2. Report and Delete: Use the “report spam” option available in most phones and messaging platforms to flag the suspicious message. Then, delete it from your inbox.
3. Stay Informed: Keep yourself updated on the latest scam trends to recognize and avoid them.

Concerns about Malware and Keyloggers

While replying to a spam message does not directly compromise your device with malware or keyloggers, especially if you did not click on any links or provide information, it’s essential to remain vigilant. If you notice unusual activity on your device, like pre-filled login fields that you did not input, it could be a sign of a different security issue unrelated to the scam message.

Protecting Your iPhone from Scams

• Regular Updates: Keep your iOS and all apps up to date to benefit from the latest security patches.
• Avoid Unknown Links: Never click on links from unsolicited or suspicious messages.
• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Enhance the security of your online accounts to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security can protect your accounts even if your password is compromised.

Removing Scam Messages and Ensuring Safety

If you’ve interacted with a scam message, take immediate steps to secure your device and accounts:

• Change Passwords: For any accounts you suspect might be at risk.
• Scan for Malware: Use a trusted security app to check your iPhone for any malware (although iOS’s closed ecosystem significantly reduces the risk of malware infections).
• Monitor Accounts: Keep an eye on your bank statements and online accounts for any unauthorized activity.

Conclusion

The “Royal Mail Package Has Arrived” scam is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks in the digital world. By staying informed, exercising caution, and taking proactive measures to protect your online presence, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to such scams. Remember, vigilance and knowledge are your best defenses against the evolving tactics of cybercriminals.

SUMMARY:

Name	Royal Mail Package Has Arrived
Type	Adware/Browser Hijacker/Trojan
Danger Level	Medium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk)
Detection Tool

Remove Royal Mail Package Has Arrived Scam from iPhone

If you have an iPhone virus, continue with the guide below.

If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.

If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.

If you have a Windows virus, please use our Windows Virus Removal guide.

First you need to close all pop-ups that are currently open.

• If the pop-up has a checkbox named “Don’t show more alerts from this webpage” click on the checkbox before closing the Ad.
• If a Block Alerts button happens to appear after you shut down a pop-up on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch tab that button to stop receiving alerts from the same page.

In case that a pop-up fails to close after performing the above operations:

• On your Mac you should make your Safari browser close forcibly by pressing Command-Option-Esc. Select Safari from the list of Apps and force close it. After you force close it you need to restart Safari, but please hold the shift button while it starts. This will prevent any pesky Ads from opening automatically.
• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch you can do the same by pressing the home button twice in a quick succession. You’ll then see a preview of all apps that have been recently used. Swipe left to find Safari and then swipe up on the app’s preview to close it forcibly In order to prevent Safari from opening unwanted windows on startup go to Settings->Safari and Clear History, as well as Website Data. This will also clear your browser history and cookies so keep that in mind and export them if you want to keep them.

Choose Preferences from the Safari menu. Then do the following:

1. Select the Security icon and then click on “Block pop-up windows“. This should stop many types of pop-ups from appearing.
2. Next check on your homepage and the settings for the search engines. Adware likes messing with those. We can not provide more specific instructions for this, as you may be using many different browsers.
   • Select the General icon and look at the Homepage field. It should either be empty or filled with the address of the Homepage you want.
   • Follow up on the Search icon. Again it should be either the default search engine or any that you have set for yourself. Note that in some versions of Safari these settings are found in the General panel/

Open Safari and click on the Extensions button. Note that Adware use extensions almost exclusively to inject the pop-up Ads into your browser. Any extension on this list that you do not remember installing yourself is likely planted there by the Adware. Remove ALL extensions you are unfamiliar with.