Fake package delivery texts and emails: how to spot them

A message says a package can't be delivered until you confirm your address or pay a small fee.

How it works

The message claims a delivery failed because of an incomplete address or an unpaid fee, and links to a page that looks like a carrier's site. It asks for your address, then a small “redelivery fee” by card. The real goal is your card number and personal details.

These spike in November and December, when nearly everyone is expecting something. AI tools now write them without the spelling mistakes people used to look for.

Red flags

• You didn't sign up for texts from that carrier, or you're not expecting anything from them.
• It asks you to pay a fee or “update” your address through a link.
• The link's website isn't the carrier's real one, even if the carrier's name is in it.
• It says your package will be returned or destroyed unless you act fast.

What it looks like

It's December and you're expecting a few deliveries.

The tells:

1. Read the address from the right: the real site is com-trackhelp.vip. “usps.com-” is just decoration.
2. A 24-hour deadline, or your package goes back.
3. “Incomplete address” is the most common story in fake delivery texts.
4. It came from a random phone number, and you never signed up for USPS texts.

A training example written for this site. Names, numbers and links are made up, and links are disabled.

What to do

1. Don't tap the link. Open the store's or carrier's app yourself, or type their website, and look up your tracking number there.
2. Carriers don't charge surprise fees by text to deliver a package.
3. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and delete them.

If you already paid or shared information

1. Contact the company you used to pay (your bank, card company, gift card company, payment app or wire service) right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
2. If you shared a password, change it now and turn on two-factor authentication.
3. If you gave out your Social Security number or other ID details, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For scams that happened online, you can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov.

From FTC: What to do if you were scammed.

Latest alerts about this scam

• FTC · Aug 20, 2026
  That unexpected package you got could be a brushing scam

  Did you get a package you didn’t order? It could be a brushing scam where a scammer uses your name to leave a fake review for that package you didn’t order.

  Delivery texts and emailsQR code scams

Sources

• FTC: Think that text message is from USPS? It could be a scam
• FTC: Fake shipping notification emails and text messages
• FTC: How to recognize and report spam text messages

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