In short: A fake delivery scam is a text or email claiming your package is on hold, or that you must pay a small fee to release or reschedule it. The message carries a link to a page that looks like USPS, UPS, FedEx or DHL, and asks for your card or personal details. The FTC noted in 2024 that fake package delivery was the number one text message scam reported. The safe response is simple: do not click. If you think a message might be real, go to the carrier's official site or app yourself and enter your tracking number, or check your own order confirmation. Never pay a surprise fee through a link or with gift card codes, and never hand over details like your birthdate to confirm a delivery. Carriers use paper notices or tracking updates you signed up for through official accounts. Poor grammar, odd sender addresses and pressure to act fast are all reasons to trust your instinct and delete.
Quick Takeaways
- Treat unexpected delivery notices skeptically: If you aren’t expecting something, assume it’s a scam. If you are, verify through your original purchase or tracking number – not through the link/text received.
- No pay-on-delivery via random links: Major carriers either require payment at time of delivery (to the driver, who gives receipt) or billing through official accounts. They won’t hide a fee behind a URL shortener link.
- Track & manage deliveries securely: Use official carrier apps or set up accounts on USPS Informed Delivery, UPS My Choice, etc. This puts you in control. And turn on multi-factor authentication for those accounts to prevent hacking.
- Spread scam awareness: Family members might forward you a suspicious email asking “Is this real?” Continue being the Scam Wise champ you are and explain calmly why it’s likely fake. The knowledge you’ve gained here can benefit your community – share a tip at the next neighborhood meeting or on social media (maybe link them to some resources).
- Trust your instinct: If something about a delivery message looks off – poor grammar, strange URL, pressure to act – trust that gut feeling. It’s usually right.
Remember, staying safe isn’t about paranoia – it’s about awareness. Scammers are always adapting, but so are we. Keep this guide handy, stay updated, and continue to be kind yet cautious in this digital age.
Stay smart, stay safe, and as always, stay Scam Wise !
Fake Delivery and Package Fee Scams
Fake delivery and package fee scams have hit almost all of us. You know the drill – a text or email says, “Your package is on hold due to unpaid fees” or “Click to reschedule delivery.” In today’s online shopping world, these scams are ubiquitous. Let’s learn to spot these bogus delivery notices, so you can click “Delete” faster than a FedEx truck on the freeway.
Scam Prevention Tips for Delivery Notices
- Beware of unsolicited texts/emails with links: If you get a message out of nowhere about a delivery – especially one asking for payment or personal info – don’t click the link . Legit carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx will usually leave a paper notice or send a tracking update if you signed up for it . They won’t send generic “pay a fee” texts. Those are almost certainly phishing. Instead, if you think it might be real, go to the official site or app of the carrier and enter your tracking number (or track via any confirmation you have from an order).
- Check the sender’s details: Often, fake delivery emails have weird sender addresses (like “UPS Support updservice123@gmail.com”) and typos or odd phrasing. Actual carrier communications usually come from an official domain (@ups.com, @fedex.com, etc.) and are specific (e.g., referencing your name or a tracking number). If the message just says “Dear customer” and has grammatical mistakes or an urgency like “FINAL NOTICE: Pay $1.99 now” , it’s a scam.
- Never pay surprise fees via gift card or payment link: Some scams say you have a package but must pay customs or a small fee first – then direct you to a payment form. No legitimate delivery company asks for random fees through a text link . Customs duties for international packages are handled through official channels, not a text to pay Amazon gift card codes. If you owe a duty, it will come with official paperwork, and you usually pay the delivery driver or through a known account.
- Use Informed Delivery/Tracking tools safely: The USPS offers “Informed Delivery” which emails you scans of your incoming mail – a legit service to know. Enroll for these kinds of services on the official sites, so you know any email claiming “package held” that’s not in those official accounts is fake. UPS, FedEx, DHL all have official tracking and will not ask you to download some “tracking app” from a random link. Only use their official apps from the app store.
- Don’t give personal info to “verify” delivery: Another twist is a message that “your delivery address is incomplete, click here to confirm details.” The link leads to a form asking for your name, address, maybe even birthdate (to “confirm identity”). They can use that for identity theft. Carriers do not need your DOB to deliver a parcel. At most, they’d need a signature upon delivery (and you see that device in person, not via email). So any request for sensitive info is a red flag.
Real-Life Scam Example
Text Book Scam: Emily receives a text: “FedEx: Package pending. Please settle $2.55 fee to release: [malicious link]” She’s indeed expecting a FedEx delivery, so she clicks. The site looks like FedEx, shows a tracking code and a fee request. She enters her credit card to pay $2.55. Boom – scammers now have her card details and run up $500 in charges before she notices. This small “fee” trick is extremely common – millions of these smishing texts (SMS phishing) get blasted out, knowing a percentage of folks are always waiting for something they ordered. In 2024, the FTC noted fake package delivery was the #1 text message scam reported – by volume and frequency.
Email Phish: John gets an email supposedly from USPS saying: “Your package #US1234567890 is unable to be delivered due to incorrect address. Please click here to update and pay a $3 re-delivery fee.” He clicks, sees a very official-looking USPS form, and enters his name, address, and credit card. The “site” even shows him a fake USPS tracking history to seem legit. Later, he finds a new credit card opened in his name and bizarre charges on his card. The info he gave was used to answer security questions for his financial accounts and apply for new credit (because many people use their address or birthdate in passwords and such – yikes). Also, that card number was resold. A double-whammy from one click.
Wrong Number WhatsApp: A new angle – a person gets a WhatsApp message: “Hi, I’m the delivery guy for your Amazon order. I’m outside but the gate is closed. What’s the code?” The person, who had indeed ordered from Amazon, thinks maybe a driver is contacting them directly. They share their gate code. Turns out, no delivery – it was a random scammer who now has access to their property or personal info. This hasn’t happened widely, but law enforcement warn never to assume someone contacting you through a messaging app is who they say. Official Amazon or delivery drivers won’t usually jump to WhatsApp unless you gave that number as contact for that order – even then, verify by calling the official customer service if something seems off.
The UK had a notorious scam in 2021 dubbed the “Royal Mail scam” – people got texts about a parcel with unpaid postage. It was so rampant even the Royal Mail had to tweet warnings. Young people, in particular, fell for it, entering card details, which led to bank accounts being compromised. One student reported losing her entire savings when the scammers used the info to call her posing as her bank and convince her to transfer funds to a “safe account.” All triggered by a fake package text. Point is, these innocuous-looking messages can lead to severe fallout.
Scam Radar: What’s Trending Now?
Holiday Season Spike: Scammers love December when everyone’s getting gifts delivered. Expect a flood of fake UPS/USPS/FedEx messages then. Remind yourself and loved ones ahead of time – “If we get any ‘extra fee’ texts during holidays, likely scam.” Better to delay one real package than fall for hundreds of fake ones.
International Shipping Boom: With more people buying from global sellers (e.g., via AliExpress, etc.), scammers impersonate customs agents or international carriers. They’ll claim your package from overseas requires a customs bond or tax paid via link. Real customs notifications come via official mail or through the carrier, not casual emails. If buying international, track via the platform’s app and be wary of any separate contact.
QR code delivery notices: Some apartment dwellers said they found a flyer on their building’s entrance with a QR code saying “Missed Delivery – scan to reschedule.” Scanning it led to a phishing site. Now, carriers do use door tag barcodes/QR for convenience, but if the flyer looks unofficial or there are multiple copies plastered around, could be fake. Always check for logos, door tag numbers, and if unsure, call the carrier.
Fake Delivery Apps: Malicious apps have been found in app stores masquerading as USPS tracking or DHL tracking, etc. They install malware that steals info. Stick to known official apps (check publisher – e.g., “United States Postal Service” as developer). If you search “package tracking” and pick some random app with few reviews, be cautious.
Porch Pirates with a Scam Twist: This isn’t exactly a scam, but some thieves put notes like “We missed you – package at [address]/call this number” on your door after stealing your box. You go to that address or call, only to get scammed for money or personal details. It’s a con to cover the theft. Uncommon, but demonstrates the creativity. If a missed delivery slip looks fishy (no logo, odd address), contact the carrier through known channels instead.
