You’re standing in line at the grocery store or maybe just waking up, and your phone buzzes. It’s a text. It says there is a problem with your package delivery—a "missing street number" or a "pending customs fee." There is a link. It looks official enough, maybe even mentions the United States Postal Service by name. You’re expecting a package anyway, right? Everyone is always expecting a package.
Stop. Breathe. Do not click that link.
The short answer to does the post office send texts is technically yes, but probably not the one you just got. Most people have no idea how the USPS actually communicates, which is exactly what scammers count on. They play on your anxiety. They want you to think your birthday gift for your mom is stuck in a warehouse somewhere because of a typo. It’s a psychological game.
Honestly, the USPS is a massive, slightly old-school government agency. They don’t just have your cell phone number on speed dial to chat about your mail. Unless you specifically went out of your way to sign up for a very specific service, that text is almost certainly a "smishing" attempt. That’s just a fancy word for SMS phishing.
How the USPS Actually Uses Your Phone Number
Let’s get into the weeds here. If you haven't gone to the official USPS.com website and registered for a "USPS Tracking" account or requested updates on a specific tracking number, they aren't going to text you. Period.
The USPS doesn’t just "know" your number. They don’t pull it from the shipping label. Think about it: when you ship a box to your cousin, does the clerk ask for your cousin's cell phone number to put in a database? No. They just need an address.
There are basically two ways you’d ever get a legitimate text from the post office. One is if you’ve signed up for Informed Delivery. This is a service where they send you a digital preview of your mail. Even then, most people get these via email, not text, unless they’ve messed with the notification settings. The second way is if you have a specific tracking number, you go to the USPS website, and you click "Text Tracking." In that scenario, you are the one who initiated the conversation. You’re the one who asked for the update.
The USPS uses a "Short Code." This is a five-digit number (28777). If you get a text from a random 10-digit number, or worse, an email address acting as a phone number, it’s a fake. It’s a scam. It’s someone in a basement somewhere trying to get your credit card info.
The Anatomy of a USPS Text Scam
Scammers are getting better, but they’re still kinda lazy. They usually follow a template. You’ll see a message that says something like, "The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse but cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link."
Notice the language. It’s often just a little bit... off. Maybe the grammar is slightly weird, or they use words like "parcel" instead of "package."
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The link is the giveaway. A real USPS link will always, always end in .gov. Not .com, not .net, not .usps-delivery-update.top. If you see a bunch of random letters and numbers in the URL, delete the message. Don't even reply "STOP." Replying just tells the scammer that your number is active and there’s a real human on the other end. That just makes you a bigger target for the next one.
Why Do These Scams Work So Well?
It’s about volume. USPS processes hundreds of millions of pieces of mail every single day. Statistically speaking, if you send out a million scam texts, a huge chunk of those people are actually waiting for a package. It feels like a coincidence to you, but it’s just math to the scammer.
I’ve seen people who are usually very tech-savvy fall for this because they were stressed. Maybe it was the holidays. Maybe they were waiting for a vital medication. When you’re in a hurry, you don't look at the URL. You just click.
The USPIS (United States Postal Inspection Service) has been screaming about this for years. They’ve noted a massive uptick in these reports. According to their data, the goal is almost always to get you to a "redelivery" page where they ask for a small "redelivery fee," usually 30 cents or a dollar. It’s a tiny amount. You think, "Whatever, it's just a dollar." But the dollar isn't the point. They want your credit card number, your CVV, and your billing address. Once they have that, they aren't charging you a dollar; they’re buying a new MacBook in another state.
What to Do If You Clicked
Look, it happens. If you clicked the link but didn't enter any info, you're probably okay, though your phone might now be flagged as "active" in a database. If you did enter your credit card info, you need to call your bank immediately. Don't wait. Don't "see if a charge shows up." Kill the card now.
You should also report it. You can wrap up the details and send them to spam@uspis.gov. You can also forward the text itself to 7726 (which spells SPAM). This helps carriers identify and block the numbers these messages are coming from.
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The Informed Delivery Factor
If you really want to know what’s coming to your house without being scammed, just sign up for the real Informed Delivery service. It’s free. It’s a legitimate government program. You get a morning email with grayscale images of the exterior of your letter-sized mail.
But even with Informed Delivery, the USPS is very clear: they will never ask for personal information via text. They won't ask for your Social Security number, your bank details, or your "mother's maiden name" to deliver a box of Omaha Steaks.
Spotting the Red Flags (Quick Checklist)
You've gotta be your own filter. Here is what a fake USPS text usually looks like:
- It comes from a standard 10-digit phone number or an email address.
- The link is a "URL shortener" (like bit.ly or tinyurl) or a weird domain ending in .cc, .top, or .info.
- There is a sense of extreme urgency ("Your package will be returned to sender in 2 hours!").
- They ask for a fee to redeliver. The USPS does not charge for redelivery. If you miss a package, they leave a peach-colored slip on your door. You can schedule a redelivery on their site for free or just go pick it up.
Real Examples of USPS Communication
When you actually sign up for tracking updates from the real 28777 short code, the messages are dry. They are boring. They usually just say: "USPS Tracking: [Number], Arrived at Post Office [Date/Time]." They don't have links to "fix" your address. They provide information, they don't demand action.
Protecting Yourself Long-Term
The best way to handle the question of does the post office send texts is to assume they don't unless you specifically asked them to five minutes ago.
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If you get a text and you are worried about a package, don't click the link in the message. Instead, open your browser, go to USPS.com, and manually type in your tracking number. If there’s actually an issue with your address, the official tracking page will tell you.
We live in an era where our phone numbers are essentially public records. Between data breaches at major retailers and "people search" websites, your cell number is out there. Scammers use "autodialers" to blast these texts to every possible numerical combination. It’s not personal. You weren't "hacked" because you got the text; you're just part of a list.
Actionable Next Steps for You
- Audit your notifications: If you use the USPS app, check your settings. Know exactly how you’ve asked to be contacted. If you didn’t ask for texts, any text you get is a lie.
- Use a tracker app: Apps like "Shop" or even just keeping a list in your Notes app of your tracking numbers can help you cross-reference. When a text arrives, check your list. If the numbers don't match, block and delete.
- Spread the word: Tell your parents and grandparents. Older adults are frequently targeted by these "delivery failure" scams because they tend to be more trusting of official-looking logos.
- Report to the USPIS: If you get a particularly convincing scam, take a screenshot and email it to spam@uspis.gov. This helps the Postal Inspection Service build cases against the people running these "smishing" rings.
- Enable "Filter Unknown Senders": Both iPhone and Android have settings to tuck away messages from people not in your contacts. It keeps your main inbox clean and keeps the "Your package is on hold" nonsense out of sight.
The post office is a service we rely on, and scammers take advantage of that trust. Staying skeptical is your best defense. If a message feels urgent, weirdly phrased, or asks for money, it's not the post office. It's just a thief with a smartphone.