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Picture a text that says your package is stuck and you owe a small fee. Almost everyone is expecting a box this time of year, so it feels plausible. The FTC calls the fake delivery text its most reported text scam.
How a Fake Delivery Text Works
What does a fake delivery text look like?
Usually something plain. Your order is confirmed. A delivery was missed. Postage is unpaid. The FTC says each one points to a link. Tap it and you land on a look-alike site that asks for your card number.
How big is the problem?
The FTC’s numbers are stark. These texts top its list of text scams for 2024. Reported losses hit $470 million that year. In 2020, the figure was less than a fifth of that. Most frauds never get reported, so the real number is higher.
What does a real USPS text look like?
Rarely like the fake one. The Postal Inspection Service says USPS sends tracking texts or emails only if you asked for tracking and gave a tracking number. Those messages hold no links. So if you never asked and a link shows up, treat it as a scam.
What to Do With a Fake Delivery Text
How do you check a real package?
The FTC says to check tracking through the retailer or account where you placed the order. Skip the text. Open the store’s app, or type the carrier’s web address yourself.
Where do you report a fake delivery text?
Forward it to 7726 (SPAM), then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the text pretends to be USPS, the Postal Inspection Service also asks you to email [email protected] with the text and a screenshot.
What if you already clicked?
Tell your bank or card issuer right away, the Postal Inspection Service says. Then watch your statements for charges you don’t know.
What about fake online stores?
Fake stores are a second holiday risk. The FBI’s complaint center logged 56,478 non-payment and non-delivery complaints in 2025. Losses topped $503 million. Look up a store you don’t know before you buy, and pay by credit card where you can.
How can you protect yourself before the holidays?
Turn on spam filtering on your phone. Keep your tracking numbers in one place. Use the store’s app to check on orders. Don’t pay a fee for a delivery you didn’t expect. If something feels off, wait a day. A real package will still arrive.
Editor’s Take
The text isn’t the danger. The link is. If you’re waiting on a package, you never need to tap anything to find it. A fake delivery text works because the timing feels right, so slow down and go to the store’s app instead.
Our guide to spotting a scam text covers other common versions.
