“USPS: Your package cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update your information here.” You get this text and think — did I order something? Maybe that thing from Amazon? You tap the link just to check. And just like that, you’ve walked into a delivery scam.
Fake package delivery texts are the single most common text message scam in America. They impersonate USPS, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon — and they work because almost everyone is expecting a package at any given time. The timing doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be plausible.
This guide breaks down exactly how delivery scams work, how to spot them instantly, and why you keep getting them.
In this guide:
- How fake delivery texts and emails work
- The most common delivery scam messages
- How to spot a fake delivery notification instantly
- Why scammers have your phone number
- How to stop delivery scams at the source
Why you keep getting these: Scammers have your phone number because data brokers sell it in bulk. Run a free Optery scan to see how many sites have your number listed — then remove it.
How Package Delivery Scams Work
Every delivery scam follows the same basic formula:
Step 1: The bait. You receive a text message, email, or even a physical notice claiming there’s an issue with a package delivery. The message looks like it’s from USPS, FedEx, UPS, or Amazon. It creates urgency — your package can’t be delivered, there’s a fee to pay, you need to reschedule, or your address needs updating.
Step 2: The link. The message includes a link to “resolve” the issue. The link leads to a fake website that looks exactly like the real carrier’s site — same logos, same layout, same color scheme.
Step 3: The capture. The fake site asks you to enter personal information — your name, address, phone number, and often a credit card number for a small “redelivery fee” (usually $1-5 to seem reasonable). Some sites also ask for your SSN or date of birth under the guise of “identity verification.”
Step 4: The exploitation. Your credit card is charged — not just the small fee, but often recurring charges or larger purchases. Your personal information is used for identity theft. Your login credentials (if the site tricked you into creating an account) are tried on your email, bank, and other accounts.
The entire scam takes 30 seconds from text to data theft. And the scammer can run it against millions of phone numbers simultaneously.
The Most Common Delivery Scam Messages
Here are the exact delivery scam messages hitting phones right now. If you receive anything like these, it’s a scam:
The undeliverable package: “USPS: We were unable to deliver your package. Please update your delivery address: [link]”
The redelivery fee: “FedEx: Your package is being held at our facility. A redelivery fee of $1.99 is required: [link]”
The tracking update: “UPS: Your package has been delayed. Track your shipment here: [link]”
The customs fee: “USPS: Your international package requires a customs clearance fee of $4.95. Pay here to release: [link]”
The missed delivery: “Amazon: We attempted delivery but no one was home. Reschedule here: [link]”
The address confirmation: “FedEx: We need to confirm your address before we can deliver your package. Verify here: [link]”
The “final attempt”: “USPS: FINAL NOTICE — Your package will be returned to sender if not claimed within 24 hours: [link]”
Notice the pattern — every message creates urgency (the package will be returned, there’s a fee, it can’t be delivered) and includes a link. That urgency plus that link is the scam formula.
How to Spot a Fake Delivery Notification Instantly
These checks take seconds and protect you from every delivery scam:
Check 1: Did you actually order something? If you’re not expecting a package, the text is almost certainly a scam. But even if you ARE expecting something, don’t trust the text — verify through official channels instead.
Check 2: Look at the link. Real carrier links use their official domains: usps.com, fedex.com, ups.com, amazon.com. Scam links use fake domains like “usps-delivery-update.com,” “fedex-package-tracking.net,” or shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl) that hide the real destination. If the domain isn’t exactly the official one, it’s fake.
Check 3: Real carriers don’t text you unsolicited. USPS, FedEx, and UPS only send text notifications if you specifically signed up for tracking updates with a tracking number. Random texts about packages you didn’t request tracking for are scams.
Check 4: Real carriers never ask for payment via text. No legitimate carrier charges redelivery fees via text message links. If a text asks you to pay anything — even $1 — it’s a scam. Real carrier fees are handled on their official website or at the time of shipping.
Check 5: Look at the sender number. Legitimate carrier notifications come from short codes (5-6 digit numbers) or verified business numbers. Scam texts typically come from regular 10-digit phone numbers or international numbers.
The golden rule: never click the link. If you want to check on a real package, open the carrier’s official app or type their URL directly into your browser. Enter your tracking number there. If there’s really an issue with your delivery, you’ll see it through official channels — not through a random text message.
Why You Keep Getting Delivery Scam Texts
The reason delivery scams keep hitting your phone comes down to two things:
Data brokers sell your phone number. Your phone number is listed on hundreds of data broker sites, packaged with your name and address. Scam operations buy these numbers in bulk — thousands or millions at a time — and blast delivery scam texts to every number. It costs them almost nothing to send millions of texts, and even a tiny success rate generates significant profit.
Your number was exposed in a data breach. If your phone number was part of a data breach, it’s now in criminal databases used for scam text campaigns. Combined with your name from data broker sites, scammers can personalize the texts: “Hi John, your USPS package is being held…”
The more personal information available about you online, the more convincing delivery scams become. A text that says “John Smith, your package to 123 Oak Street cannot be delivered” — using your real name and address from a data broker site — is much harder to dismiss than a generic “your package cannot be delivered.”
Run a free Optery scan to see how many data broker sites have your phone number and address listed right now.
Delivery Scams Beyond Text Messages
Delivery scams aren’t limited to texts. Watch for these variations too:
Email delivery scams. Phishing emails impersonating USPS, FedEx, UPS, or Amazon with fake tracking numbers, fake delivery notices, and links to fake websites. These are often more sophisticated than text scams because emails can include convincing logos, formatting, and layouts.
Physical “missed delivery” notices. Scammers place fake delivery notices on doors or in mailboxes with a phone number or QR code to “reschedule delivery.” Calling the number connects you to a scammer who asks for personal information. Scanning the QR code leads to a fake website.
Fake “package delivered” alerts with photos. You receive a notification with a photo of a package at a door that isn’t yours. The message says there was a delivery error and asks you to click a link to correct it. The photo is stock imagery — the message is designed to create confusion that leads to clicking.
Brushing scams. You actually receive a package you didn’t order — usually something cheap like seeds, jewelry, or electronics accessories. This means a scammer created a fake account using your name and address (from data broker sites) to post fake positive reviews on marketplaces. The package itself is harmless, but the fact that someone is using your identity is concerning.
What to Do If You Fell for a Delivery Scam
If you clicked a link and entered information on a delivery scam site:
If you entered payment information: Call your bank or credit card company immediately. Request a new card number. Monitor your statements for unauthorized charges — check for small recurring charges as well as large ones. File a fraud report.
If you entered personal information: Freeze your credit with all three bureaus if you provided your SSN or date of birth. Monitor your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. File a report at IdentityTheft.gov if the information was extensive enough for identity theft.
If you entered login credentials: Change the password on that account and any other accounts using the same password. Enable two-factor authentication. Get a password manager and create unique passwords for everything.
Report the scam: Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your carrier. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Report to the impersonated carrier: USPS (uspis.gov/report), FedEx (fedex.com/en-us/report-fraud.html), UPS (ups.com/fraud).
How to Stop Delivery Scams at the Source
Here’s how to reduce the volume of delivery scams targeting your phone:
Step 1: Remove Your Phone Number from Data Broker Sites
Scammers buy your phone number from data broker databases. Removing it cuts off their supply.
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Step 2: Use USPS Informed Delivery
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery at informeddelivery.usps.com. This free service shows you images of incoming mail and packages through official USPS channels. When you know what’s actually coming, fake delivery texts become instantly recognizable — because you know they don’t match any real delivery.
Step 3: Enable Spam Filtering
iPhone: Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders. This separates texts from unknown numbers into a separate tab.
Android: Messages → Settings → Spam protection → toggle ON.
Step 4: Use a Secondary Phone Number
Get a free Google Voice number for online shopping and deliveries. Use it when retailers and shipping services ask for your phone number. When delivery scam texts hit your Google Voice number, they never reach your real phone.
Step 5: Track Packages Through Official Apps Only
Install the official USPS, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon apps. Track every package through these apps — never through text message links. If a text claims there’s a delivery issue, open the official app to check. If the app shows no issues, the text is a scam.
Why Delivery Scams Are So Effective
Delivery scams work better than almost any other scam type because of perfect timing and universal relevance:
Almost everyone is expecting a package. With the growth of online shopping, most Americans have at least one package in transit at any given time. A “your package can’t be delivered” text has a high chance of seeming relevant, even if the scammer is sending it blindly.
The amounts are small. A $1.99 “redelivery fee” doesn’t trigger alarm bells. Most people think, “It’s just two bucks — I’ll pay it to get my package.” But that payment captures your credit card number, which is then used for much larger charges.
The action seems harmless. “Update your address” or “confirm your information” sounds like a reasonable request from a carrier. People don’t think of it as giving away personal information — they think of it as helping the carrier deliver their package.
Data brokers enable personalization. When a scammer knows your name and address from data broker sites, they can reference your actual location in the text. “Your package to 123 Oak Street cannot be delivered” feels real because 123 Oak Street IS your real address.
Stop Delivery Scams from Reaching You
Delivery scams succeed because scammers have your phone number and personal details. Take away the data and you take away the scam.
- Never click links in delivery texts — always check packages through official carrier apps
- Run a free Optery scan — see how many data broker sites have your phone number and address
- Remove your data from broker sites — use Optery or Incogni to cut off the data supply
- Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery — know what’s actually coming so fakes are obvious
- Use Google Voice for online shopping and delivery phone numbers
- Forward scam texts to 7726 to report them to your carrier
The next fake delivery text is already on its way to your phone. Make sure you’re ready for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS send text messages about packages?
USPS only sends text notifications if you specifically signed up for tracking updates with a valid tracking number through their official system. Random unsolicited texts about packages are scams. Use USPS Informed Delivery (informeddelivery.usps.com) for legitimate delivery notifications.
Does FedEx charge redelivery fees via text?
No. FedEx does not charge redelivery fees via text message links. Any text asking you to pay a fee for FedEx delivery is a scam. Real FedEx fees are handled through their official website or at the time of shipping.
I clicked a delivery scam link but didn’t enter anything. Am I safe?
Probably. Simply clicking a link is lower risk than entering information. However, some scam sites attempt to install malware through your browser. Run a security scan on your device to be safe. The real danger is in entering personal or payment information on the fake site.
Why do delivery scam texts use my real name?
Scammers get your name from data broker sites that link your phone number to your real name and address. This personalization makes the scam more convincing. Removing your data from broker sites using Optery or Incogni prevents this personalization.
I received a package I didn’t order. Is this a scam?
Possibly a “brushing scam” — where a scammer created a fake account using your name and address (from data broker sites) to post fake reviews. The package is usually harmless, but it means someone is using your identity. Remove your data from broker sites and monitor your accounts.
How do I report a delivery scam text?
Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Report to the carrier being impersonated: USPS (uspis.gov/report), FedEx, or UPS through their fraud reporting pages.
Will removing my phone number from data brokers stop delivery scam texts?
It significantly reduces them. When your phone number is removed from data broker databases, scam operations can’t buy it in bulk lists. Users consistently report fewer spam texts within 1-2 months of data broker removal. Run a free Optery scan to get started.
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