Package Delivery Text Scam: How to Spot It and Verify Safely
Key Takeaways
- Verify deliveries in official apps, not text links.
- Do not pay fees through delivery text links.
- If you clicked, secure accounts and monitor payments.
- Report and block repeat senders.
If you are not expecting a package, treat delivery links as suspicious. If you are expecting one, check tracking in the retailer or carrier app you open yourself, not through the text.
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Why delivery texts are such an effective pretext
Delivery problems feel routine, and many people are actually waiting for packages. That makes a vague “address issue” message plausible even when it is sent at random.
Most delivery scams only need one thing: for you to follow their link. After that, they can ask for a small fee, collect card details, or send you to a lookalike login page.
Delivery scams work because the story is routine. The risk is always the same: a link that moves you into payment or login.
Delivery scams work because everyone is always waiting for something. In 2026, the link destinations are often polished “redelivery” portals that simply collect card details. If you want one safety habit, make it this: track inside the retailer or carrier app you open yourself.
What makes a delivery text worth trusting
Expectation: if you are not expecting a package, treat the text as untrusted.
Verification path: real tracking can be checked inside the retailer or carrier app you open yourself.
Payments: delivery texts that ask for a fee are a common fraud pattern.
Domains: misspellings and unrelated domains are a stronger signal than the message wording.
Urgency: “today only” is often used to get you to click before you think.
What the delivery text wants you to do next
You have a real order: track via the retailer or carrier app you open yourself.
You do not have an order: treat as spam and report it.
It asks for a small fee: high risk. Do not pay through a text link.
It pushes urgency: slow down and verify through official channels.
Common scripts you will see (and how to handle them)
The message claims your address is incomplete
This is a common script because it feels plausible and urgent.
Instead, open the retailer account and confirm shipping status there.
The message includes a short link
Short links hide the real destination, which increases risk.
Instead, do not click. Verify through official apps only.
It asks for a redelivery fee
Fees are often used to capture card details, not to deliver a package.
Instead, do not pay. Report the message and verify your real order status.
If you already clicked or replied, what matters now
If you clicked: close the page and do not enter information. Then check tracking in the retailer/carrier app you open yourself.
If you paid a fee: contact your payment provider and document the transaction.
If you entered a password: change it and enable two-step verification.
Watch for follow-ups: delivery scams often send more links once you engage.
When it is worth reporting, and who to report to
Report spam texts: use your messaging app report feature. Many carriers accept 7726 (SPAM).
Report fraud:ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Related guides
How to Spot a Fake Text Message
Unknown Number Link? How to Verify Without Clicking
Sources
FAQs
Is it safe to click a delivery tracking link in a text?
It is safer to not click. Open the carrier app or official site directly and track there.
How do I verify a delivery message is real?
Check your order confirmation and track using official apps or sites you open yourself. Avoid tracking through message links.
Why do delivery scams ask for a small fee?
Fees can be a way to capture payment details. Legit carriers typically do not collect surprise fees through random text links.
What if I do have a package coming?
Track it through the retailer account or the carrier app. Do not rely on the text link.
Should I reply to the text?
No. Do not engage. Report and block if it is suspicious.
What should I do if I clicked?
Close the page. If you entered details, change passwords and monitor accounts for unusual activity.
