Are missed delivery or package notification texts always scams?
When they're real
If you recently ordered a package, a delivery notification can be legitimate. Real messages typically come from a short code or number you can verify, mention a specific tracking number, and don't ask you to click a link to pay a fee or enter personal details. Some carriers let you opt in to text updates when you provide your phone number during checkout.
For example, UPS, FedEx, and USPS offer free tracking alerts. But even these can be spoofed. The key is whether you signed up for notifications and whether the message matches an order you actually placed.
- You recently placed an order
- Message includes a real tracking number you can verify
- No request for payment or sensitive info
- Sender matches a service you signed up for
Why most are scams
Scammers send millions of fake delivery texts hoping to catch people who are expecting a package. These messages often claim a package is held due to an incomplete address or unpaid fee, and include a link to a fake website that steals your credit card or login details. The link may look like a real carrier's site but has a slightly different domain.
Common red flags: a link to a site you don't recognize, a request for a small payment (like $1–$3) to 'release' the package, poor grammar, and a sender that isn't the actual carrier. If you didn't order anything, it's almost certainly a scam.
How to check safely
Never click the link. Instead, go directly to the carrier's official website (type it yourself) and enter the tracking number if you have one. If you don't have a tracking number, log in to the retailer's site where you ordered and check the status there. You can also call the carrier's customer service using a number from their official site.
If the message is from a carrier you didn't use, delete it. You can report it by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM) in the U.S. If you already clicked and entered info, follow the steps for a phishing click: change passwords, contact your bank, and monitor accounts.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any delivery text is real because you're expecting a package—scammers time these to your shopping habits.
- Clicking the link to 'reschedule' or 'pay a fee' without verifying the sender.
- Believing that a small payment request is harmless—it's a way to steal your card details.
