Fake Delivery Text Scams, Explained
September 29, 2026 · 5 min read
"USPS: Your package could not be delivered." You didn't order anything recently — or maybe you did, and that's exactly why this scam works. Fake delivery notifications are among the most successful text scams because almost everyone shops online, and a missed-package message creates just enough doubt to make you click.
How the scam works, step by step
- You get an unexpected text claiming a package failed delivery, often impersonating USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL.
- The text includes a link to "reschedule" or "update your address." The link leads to a page designed to look like the real carrier's tracking site.
- You're asked to confirm details — your name, address, and sometimes a tiny "redelivery fee" of a dollar or two.
- You enter your card number to pay the fee. The scammers now have your full name, address, and payment details — worth far more than the fee itself.
Real vs. fake: how to tell
Real carrier messageComes from a consistent short code; references a tracking number you recognize; never asks for payment or card details by text; the link goes to the carrier's real domain (usps.com, ups.com, fedex.com).
Fake messageComes from a random mobile number; vague about which package; asks you to pay a "fee" or re-enter your address; the link uses a lookalike domain like usps-track[.]top or fedex-delivery[.]xyz.
What to do if you get one
- Don't click the link. Go to the carrier's official site or app yourself and enter the tracking number there — if you even have one.
- No order, no package. If you aren't expecting anything, treat the message as fake by default.
- Never pay a "redelivery fee" from a text link. Real carriers don't collect surprise fees this way.
- Forward it to 7726 (SPAM) in the US, then delete it.
Example: "FedEx: Hi, your package 78410255 has arrived at the facility but cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address. Please confirm: fedex-reschedule[.]info" — Note the generic greeting, the urgency, and the non-fedex.com domain.
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