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    3 min read 5 stepsJuly 20, 2026Verified July 2026

    How to Spot Fake Package Delivery Text Scams

    Learn to recognize fake 'your package couldn't be delivered' text messages designed to steal your personal information or payment details.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    5
    Topics covered
    smishing
    text scam
    package delivery scam
    scam prevention

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.Don't tap the link in the text
    2. 2.Track your package a different way
    3. 3.Look for red flags in the message
    4. 4.Never enter payment or personal information from a text link
    5. 5.Report and block the number
    1

    Don't tap the link in the text

    ~15s
    If you get an unexpected delivery text with a link, don't tap it, even if it mentions a real company like USPS or FedEx. Delete the message or leave it unopened if you're not sure.
    2

    Track your package a different way

    ~15s
    If you are expecting a package, check its status by opening the shipping company's official app, or by typing the tracking number directly into the company's official website — not by tapping any link from a text.
    3

    Look for red flags in the message

    ~15s
    Watch for urgent language ('respond within 24 hours'), requests for payment to release a package, misspellings, or a link that doesn't quite match the company's real website address when you look closely.
    4

    Never enter payment or personal information from a text link

    ~24s
    Real delivery companies do not charge a fee by text message to redeliver a package. If a page asks for your credit card number, full address, or Social Security number after tapping a delivery text link, close it right away.

    Warning

    Even if the fake page looks identical to a real company's website, the web address in your browser will usually be slightly different from the company's actual site.

    5

    Report and block the number

    ~15s
    Forward the suspicious text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it to your mobile carrier, then block the sender's number. You can also report package delivery scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

    You Did It!

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    Fake delivery text scams, sometimes called 'smishing' (SMS phishing), send a message claiming a package couldn't be delivered because of a missing address, an unpaid fee, or a customs charge. The text includes a link that leads to a fake page designed to look like USPS, UPS, FedEx, or Amazon, where it asks for your credit card number, home address, or account login to 'resolve' the fake issue.

    These messages often arrive even if you aren't expecting any package at all, since scammers send them out in bulk hoping some recipients happen to be waiting for a delivery around the same time. The real shipping companies almost never ask for payment information by text message to release a package, and legitimate delivery notifications don't usually ask you to click a link to 'confirm your address.'

    The safest approach is to never tap a link in an unexpected delivery text, and instead check tracking information directly through the shipping company's official app or website using a tracking number you already have. Source: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages and usps.com/help/fraud.htm.

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    smishing
    text scam
    package delivery scam
    scam prevention

    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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