A new text message scam has been making its way around the country, trying to trick people into entering their credit card information by purporting they have a package to claim -- taking advantage of this year's surge in online shopping as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the past two weeks, people across the US have been receiving text messages with wording similar to this: "[Name], we came across a parcel from [a recent month] pending for you. Kindly claim ownership and confirm for delivery here," along with a link.

This is a scam, and you should avoid opening the link, a spokesperson from the Better Business Bureau told CNET. 

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When you click the link, a page tells you that the alleged package is free of charge, but you're still asked to provide your credit card information. 

The best thing to do to avoid falling victim to this scam is to delete the message as soon as you get it. If you've already clicked the link and/or entered your credit card information, you should run antivirus software on your phone and then watch for suspicious credit card charges, the BBB spokesperson said. You can also report the message to the BBB Scam Tracker. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to coronavirus-related scams, which cost consumers about $12 million in just the earliest months of the pandemic, according to the US Federal Trade Commission. You can find out how to protect yourself against scams here.