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Is that USPS "missed delivery" text a scam?

Last updated · Written by Daniel Morton, Scam, Fraud & Prevention Consultant, Winston-Salem, NC

Short answer: Almost certainly, if it has a link. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS only texts you if you signed up for tracking with a tracking number, and its texts won't contain a link. People in Winston-Salem, the Triad and across North Carolina are getting these texts this holiday shipping season.

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How it works

You get a text saying a package couldn't be delivered because of a problem with your address, unpaid postage, or a missed delivery. It includes a link to "reschedule" or pay a small "redelivery fee." The link goes to a look-alike website that collects your card number and personal information.

AARP reports that, according to the Federal Trade Commission, package delivery messages were the most-reported kind of text scam. One caller to AARP's helpline paid a 99-cent fee and was later charged $400.

Red flags

  • A text from the Post Office when you never signed up for tracking on that package. USPS texts won't contain a link.
  • A request for a fee, your card number, or personal information to release a package
  • No tracking number, or a web address that's close to the real one but not quite (for example, "fedx" instead of "fedex")

What to do

  1. Don't tap the link or reply.
  2. If you're expecting something, look it up on the store's website where you ordered it, or type usps.com, ups.com, or fedex.com into your browser yourself.
  3. A paper "missed delivery" note on your door works the same way: look up the carrier's number on its official website instead of calling the number on the note.
  4. Report it: forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). Fake Post Office texts: email a screenshot to [email protected]. Fake UPS or FedEx texts: forward them to [email protected] or [email protected].

If you already responded

It happens to careful people every day. Call the number on the back of your bank or credit card to tell them, and ask about disputing the charge. Keep an eye on your statements for charges you don't recognize. The Postal Inspection Service also suggests calling your bank if you typed anything into the website, even if you never pressed "submit."

Who to call in North Carolina

  • Forward scam texts to 7726 (spells "SPAM") so your phone company can block similar messages.
  • Fake Post Office texts: [email protected]
  • NC Department of Justice consumer hotline: 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226), or file a consumer complaint
  • AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline (free for anyone, member or not): 877-908-3360
  • Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
  • FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov

Common questions

Does USPS send texts with links?
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS doesn't text you unless you asked for updates with a tracking number, and its texts won't contain a link.
What should I do with a fake missed-delivery text?
Don't tap the link or reply. Look up your package on the store's website or type usps.com, ups.com, or fedex.com into your browser yourself. Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM).
Where do I report a fake Post Office text?
Email a screenshot to [email protected], forward the text to 7726, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What if I already paid the redelivery fee?
Call the number on the back of your bank or credit card, ask about disputing the charge, and watch your statements. Call your bank even if you typed information into the site without pressing submit.

Sources

Take your time, and talk it over with someone you trust. There's no shame in being targeted, and reporting helps your neighbors too. This page summarizes the official warnings and news reports linked above. It's general information, not legal or financial advice.

Want an extra layer of protection? Start with the free steps above. If you'd also like to compare paid tools like identity monitoring, call blockers or medical alert devices, see our plain-language protection guide.

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