Is This USPS Delivery Text a Scam? How to Tell

Short answer: a text claiming USPS "couldn't deliver your package" and asking you to click a link to update your address or pay a small fee is almost always a scam. These "failed delivery" texts are one of the most common scams going, because so many of us are waiting on a package at any given time.

You can spot the fake in seconds. Here's how — and how to check a real delivery safely.

Quick check: Don't tap the link. Track any real package by entering the tracking number yourself at the official USPS site or app. USPS won't text you a link asking for a fee or your personal details out of the blue.

What the scam text looks like

A typical one reads:

USPS: Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete
address. Please update your information here to reschedule:
https://usps-redelivery-info.com/track

The pattern is consistent: a delivery "problem," a link to fix it, and sometimes a small "redelivery fee." The link goes to a look-alike site that harvests your address and card details.

The red flags

• An unexpected link to "update" or "pay." USPS doesn't text random links demanding details or a fee.
• A look-alike web address. usps-redelivery-info.com, usps-tracking-help.net, and similar are not the real USPS domain.
• A tracking number that doesn't match anything you actually sent or ordered — or no tracking number at all.
• Urgency. "Reschedule within 24 hours" or "final notice" is there to rush you.
• It arrives by text when you never signed up for USPS text alerts.

Real USPS text vs. scam at a glance

| Signal | Real USPS | Likely scam | | --- | --- | --- | | How it starts | You opted into tracking alerts | Out of the blue | | Link | None, or the official usps site | Look-alike domain | | Fee | Never requested by random text | "Redelivery fee" | | Tracking number | Matches your order | Missing or unmatched | | Asks for | Nothing sensitive | Address + card details |

Why USPS gets impersonated so often

USPS is a near-universal brand — almost everyone in the US receives mail from it, so a "failed delivery" text feels plausible to a huge audience. Scammers also lean on the same trick with FedEx, UPS, and DHL. The volume is the strategy: blast millions of numbers, and a meaningful slice will happen to be expecting a package that day.

Knowing the carrier is real doesn't make the text real. The brand is exactly what the scam is borrowing.

The FedEx, UPS, and DHL versions

The exact same scam runs under every major carrier's name, so don't let a different logo fool you:

• FedEx: "Your FedEx package is on hold — confirm your delivery preferences."
• UPS: "We attempted delivery; a small fee is required to reschedule."
• DHL: "Your parcel is waiting at our facility — update your details."

The wrapper changes; the mechanics don't. Any carrier text with an unexpected link, a fee, or a request for personal details gets the same response: don't tap, and verify by entering your tracking number on the carrier's official site yourself.

How to track a real package safely

1. Find your tracking number in your order confirmation from the retailer.
2. Go to the official USPS website or app yourself — don't use the text's link.
3. Enter the tracking number there to see the real status.
4. If a real delivery needs action, the official tracking page will show it.

Genuine carrier issues show up in official tracking. If the text's claim doesn't match what you see there, the text was fake.

What to do with the scam text

1. Don't tap the link or reply — not even "STOP," which confirms your number is active.
2. Report it. In the US, forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), then file at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can also report postal scams to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
3. Delete it.

If you already tapped or paid

• If you only tapped and entered nothing, close the page; you're likely fine.
• If you entered card details, call your bank using the number on the back of your card and ask them to watch for fraud or reissue the card.
• If you entered a password, change it everywhere you used it and enable two-factor authentication.

For the full walkthrough, see what to do if you clicked a phishing link.

Not sure if yours is real?

Some of these land right when you're actually expecting a delivery, which makes them convincing. Instead of guessing, screenshot the text and forward it to FraudRoom at check@fraudroom.com — you'll get a clear risk level and the safest next step back, in plain English.

FAQ

Does USPS send delivery texts with links?

Only if you signed up for USPS tracking alerts, and even then it won't ask for a fee or personal details through the link. An unexpected USPS text with a link and a "problem" is a scam.

How do I check if a USPS text is real?

Don't use the text's link. Find your tracking number in your retailer's order confirmation and enter it yourself at the official USPS site or app. The real status is there.

I paid a USPS "redelivery fee" — what now?

Call your bank immediately using the number on your card, report the fraud, and ask about reissuing the card. Then report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Why did I get a USPS text when I'm not expecting a package?

Scammers send these to huge random lists, so most recipients aren't expecting anything. Getting one out of the blue is itself a sign it's a scam.

Key takeaways

• "Couldn't deliver your package" texts with a link are almost always a scam.
• The look-alike web address and a redelivery "fee" are the giveaways.
• Track real packages by entering the number yourself on the official USPS site or app.
• If you paid, call your bank right away; if unsure, get the text checked first.

Related reading

• Is this text message a scam? How to tell in 60 seconds
• Is the toll road text a scam? (EZ-Pass, SunPass & more)
• What to do if you clicked a phishing link