Beware of fake delivery text messages; they’re scams designed to deceive you into clicking on dangerous links or revealing personal details. To quickly spot these messages, look out for unexpected texts, odd links, grammar errors, and requests for urgent action or personal data. Legitimate delivery services generally won’t request personal information through text or pressure you with urgent demands for payment or redelivery. One of the biggest signs of a fake delivery text is receiving a message you weren’t expecting. Recently, have you made any purchases? Are you waiting for a package from that carrier?
If the answer is no, or if it feels off-time, you should immediately be on your guard. Scammers frequently cast a wide net, hoping to catch someone expecting a package, even if it’s not from the carrier mentioned. Did You Recently Make a Purchase?
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Although it seems obvious, it’s easy to forget your recent orders, especially if you shop online often. Before you analyze the text, make sure to recall your recent purchases. Review your email for any order confirmations or shipping notifications. If there’s no match between the sender or package description in the text, it’s a strong indicator of a scam. Confirming the Carrier Name
Even if you’re expecting a package, is the text from the correct carrier?
Fraudsters often use reputable names like FedEx, UPS, USPS, or DHL to appear credible. A telltale sign of a potential scam is when the text message claims your package is from FedEx, yet it’s actually supposed to be delivered by UPS. Sometimes they employ lesser-known carrier names in an attempt to deceive you into not checking the details. Uninvited ‘Failed Delivery’ notifications
A frequent tactic involves sending a ‘failed delivery attempt’ or ‘package on hold’ message. The purpose of these messages is to prompt a sense of urgency.
Although legitimate carriers sometimes send delivery issue notifications, they rarely ask you to click a link in a text to reschedule or pay a fee. Instead, they typically provide a tracking number for use on their official website or ask you to call a customer service number. This is without a doubt the most vital area to pay close attention to.
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| Indicator | Description | Example | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sender Number | Unknown or suspicious number, often not matching official courier numbers. | +1234567890 instead of official company number | High |
| Spelling and Grammar | Messages contain spelling mistakes or awkward phrasing. | “Your pakage is on the way” | Medium |
| Urgency and Threats | Message pressures you to act quickly or face consequences. | “Click now or your delivery will be canceled!” | High |
| Suspicious Links | Links that do not match official courier websites or use shortened URLs. | http://bit.ly/fake-delivery | High |
| Request for Personal Information | Asks for sensitive data like credit card or social security numbers. | “Please confirm your credit card details to proceed.” | High |
| Unexpected Delivery | Message about a package you did not order or expect. | “Your parcel from XYZ is ready for pickup.” | Medium |
| Generic Greetings | Uses vague terms like “Dear Customer” instead of your name. | “Dear Customer, your package is delayed.” | Low |
| Check with Official Sources | Verify delivery status through official courier websites or apps. | N/A | Recommended |
The ultimate aim of most fake delivery texts is to get you to click on a phishing link, which is a harmful link. They direct you to fake websites that aim to steal your login credentials, credit card information, or install malware on your device. Thoroughly Check the URL
Before clicking anything, always inspect the link. Examine the full web address, not just the text that’s displayed.
Scammers may disguise malicious links by making the visible text seem legitimate, like “trackpackage.ups.com.” However, if you hold the link (on most smartphones) or hover over it (on a computer), the actual URL will be revealed. Features of Common Malicious Links
Here’s what to watch for in a suspicious URL:
Be cautious of misspelled URLs like “fedx.com” (instead of “fedex.com”) & “upss.com” (instead of “ups.com”). Authentic tracking links usually begin with the carrier’s domain, e.g., “track.ups.com” or “www.fedex.com/tracking,” not with extra characters like “ups-tracking-info.com” or “fedex.delivery.update.net.”
Less common TLDs like.xyz, .info, or.biz, and especially country-specific domains for carriers not based there, such as a.ru domain for a US-based carrier, should make you cautious. Most legitimate carriers utilize.com,.org, or their designated country TLDs.
Be cautious if a link is a string of numbers, such as http://192.168.1.1, as it is likely a fake link. Authentic businesses always use domain names. Legitimate sites dealing with personal or payment info will always use HTTPS (displayed with a padlock icon in your browser’s address bar), though this isn’t a guarantee of legitimacy.
If a link redirects you to an HTTP site requesting sensitive data, exit the site at once. Verify first, then click
When in doubt, the best course of action is to not click. To check on a package if you’re concerned, go to the carrier’s official website (e.g., www.ups.com) in your browser, & use the tracking number from your order confirmation email, not the text message. It completely sidesteps any potentially dangerous links in the text message.
When unexpectedness and suspicious links are absent, the message’s content & presentation can often disclose its fraudulent nature. Scammers, even with their efforts, frequently make errors that legitimate firms rarely make. A common indicator of a scam is often poor grammar & spelling.
One of the classic signs of a scam is this. It is a standard practice for legitimate companies to have professional communication teams who meticulously proofread their messages. Unlike legitimate companies, scammers often operate from non-English speaking countries or overlook basic grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, & misspellings. Some indicators to look for include:
Capitalization mistakes, e.g., (“your Package has been delayed.”)
Examples of punctuation errors include missing or extra punctuation (e.g., “Your package needs fees.!”, “Click here.”)
Examples of awkward phrasing include “Kindly click on link below for delivery.” instead of “Please click the link below for delivery.”
Typographical errors, such as “delivert” instead of “delivery”. A single minor typo might occasionally occur with legitimate senders, but a pattern of such errors is a significant red flag.
Lack of personalization and generic salutations
To confirm the authenticity of the message, legitimate delivery notifications often include specific details. These can include:
For your name: “Hello [Your Name],” or “Dear [Your Name],”
Not merely a link, but the precise tracking number you can independently confirm. Order Number: It may reference your particular order if it’s a notification from an online retailer. Generic greetings such as ‘Dear Customer,’ ‘Hello,’ or even no greeting are typical in fake texts.
They don’t have the specific details you’d expect because scammers lack access to them. These are just generic messages being sent out. Beware of urgent or threatening language.
To make you act without thinking, scammers thrive on creating urgency or fear. Messages that should raise your suspicion include:
Claim that your package will be returned to the sender immediately if you don’t act. Mention “unpaid customs fees” or “delivery charges” that must be paid immediately.
Threaten legal action or extra fees if you don’t reply within a very short period. Ask for immediate payment for “redelivery” or “holding fees.”
Legitimate delivery issues may arise, but carriers usually give clear, non-threatening instructions and plenty of time to resolve them, often through their official website or customer service, not via an urgent link in a text. Be alert to requests for personal information or payments. Legitimate delivery services almost never ask for sensitive personal information or payment through a text message link.
Never provide credit card details on a site accessed by an unsolicited text link. Sensitive details like your Social Security Number (SSN) or Date of Birth should never be requested by a delivery service through a text message regarding package delivery. Should the link prompt you to log into your bank or shopping account, you should be very wary. It is recommended to independently access those websites. For a genuine payment, a legitimate carrier will usually inform you about payment upon delivery or direct you to their official secure payment portal on their main website.
Examine who is sending the message & how they present themselves. This could also indicate a potential scam. Scammers commonly use generic numbers or spoofed sender IDs. Numbers You Don’t Know
Official notifications from legitimate delivery services frequently use short codes (e.g., 28773 for UPS, 95482 for USPS) or specific numbers. A text from a regular 10-digit phone number, especially resembling a personal cell phone number, is a significant warning.
While some smaller, local delivery services might use regular numbers, major carriers typically don’t. Unmatched Sender IDs
The sender ID might sometimes directly display as ‘FedEx’ or ‘UPS’. Scammers can, however, imitate these. The overall context should be considered. If the text claims it’s from ‘UPS’ but the link is ‘fedx.com,’ there’s a clear inconsistency. Consider checking if you’ve ever communicated with this “sender” via text.
Watch out for new or unusual numbers from carriers you regularly use. Missing Contact Information or Unverified Details
A legitimate delivery notification generally includes a customer service number or a clear way to reach out to them without having to click on a link. Illegitimate texts usually lack this or present a number that doesn’t belong to the actual carrier. If you’re given a tracking number, paste it directly into the search bar on the official carrier’s website.
If it fails to work or the website states it’s an invalid number, the text is almost certainly fake. The “Reply STOP” Trick
Fake texts often include “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.” While real companies offer this option, scammers use it to verify if your number is active. By replying, you confirm to them that you’ve reached a live person, making you a more attractive target for future scams.
It’s generally safer to ignore and delete suspicious texts instead of replying. Knowing how to spot a fake text is just the first step, but understanding what to do afterward is equally important. Your actions can help safeguard yourself and potentially others too. Refrain from clicking on any links in the message.
This is the most important piece of advice. Even if you’re curious, resist the urge to click. The act of clicking on the link can lead to falling prey to phishing or malware. Should you accidentally click on it, immediately disconnect your device from the internet by turning off Wi-Fi and mobile data, run a trusted antivirus scan, and change any passwords that could have been compromised if you entered them on the fake site. Do not respond to the message.
As previously mentioned, replying to the message confirms your number is active and makes you a target for more scams. Just erase the message. Get rid of the message. Once you’ve determined it’s a fake, remove the text message from your phone. It helps avoid future accidental clicks and keeps your message inbox tidy.
Highlight the message. Reporting these messages aids telecommunication providers and authorities in tracking and blocking scammers. In the US & some countries, you can forward scam text messages to 7726 (SPAM). It reports the message to your mobile carrier.
You can often report phishing attempts directly to the legitimate carrier the scammer is impersonating. Most major carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL) provide dedicated sections on their websites for reporting fraud or phishing attempts. On their site, search for “report scam” or “fraud”. Report to government authorities:
If you’re in the US, you can report scam texts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
You can report scam texts in the UK to Action Fraud or the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). In Canada, scam texts need to be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). For reporting procedures, check with your local government’s cybersecurity or consumer protection agencies. Notify your bank or credit card company immediately. If you think you may have entered financial information on a fake site, contact your bank or credit card company to report potential fraud and to monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.
Let others know about this. If you know anyone who might be susceptible to such scams, especially elderly relatives or less tech-savvy friends, share this information with them. An immediate alert can stop them from being scammed. To protect yourself from fake delivery text messages, stay vigilant and know what to look for. When in doubt, always verify through official, trusted channels and play it safe.
