You’re sitting on the couch, maybe scrolling through your phone, when it buzzes. It’s a text. "USPS: Your package has a problem. Click here to update your address." Your heart skips a beat because, honestly, who isn't waiting for a package these days? But wait. Before you tap that link and hand over your life's details, let’s get one thing straight.
Does USPS send texts about packages? Yes, they do—but almost certainly not the one you just got.
There is a massive difference between the official USPS Text Tracking service and the flood of "smishing" (SMS phishing) scams hitting phones in 2026. If you didn't specifically ask for a text, USPS isn't going to send you one. They simply don't work that way.
How Official USPS Text Alerts Actually Work
The Postal Service is a government agency. They aren't exactly known for being proactive or "sliding into your DMs" out of the blue. To get a text from them, you have to be the one to start the conversation.
There are basically two ways this happens. You either go to the official USPS.com tracking page and check a box to receive updates, or you text them first. If you text a tracking number to 28777 (2USPS), they’ll text you back with the status. That’s it. One-and-done unless you specifically tell them to keep the updates coming.
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The Anatomy of a Real USPS Text
A legitimate text from the Postal Service is pretty dry. It’s not dramatic. It doesn’t use exclamation points to scare you. Usually, it looks like this:
- The Sender: It comes from the 5-digit short code 28777.
- The Content: It starts with "USPS" followed by your 22-digit tracking number.
- The Status: It says "Delivered," "In Transit," or "Available for Pickup."
- The Link: Crucially, real USPS texts almost never contain a link. If they do, it is a very specific, recognizable USPS.com URL, but in 99% of cases, the text is just plain information.
If you see a link like "https://www.google.com/search?q=usps-delivery-help.com" or some weird string of random letters? Trash it.
The "Address Problem" Scam That Everyone Is Getting
The most common scam right now is the "Incomplete Address" text. It tells you your package is held at a warehouse because your house number is missing or the ZIP code is wrong. It feels urgent. It feels real because we all make typos sometimes.
But think about it. If the Post Office doesn't have your correct address, how do they have your cell phone number?
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They don't. USPS doesn't keep a database linking every tracking number to a random person's mobile phone. Scammers just blast these texts to millions of numbers at once, hoping a few people happen to be expecting a package that day. It's a numbers game.
Informed Delivery: The Only Proactive Option
If you want to stay ahead of the game without falling for scams, you should probably be using Informed Delivery. This is a free service where they scan your mail and send you a "Daily Digest."
Once you’re signed up and have verified your identity (which is a bit of a process, involving a code sent to your physical mailbox), you can toggle on text alerts for every package coming to your house. In this specific scenario, you will get texts automatically.
Even then, the rules remain:
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- The text will come from 28777.
- It will mention your specific tracking number.
- It will NOT ask you for money or a "redelivery fee."
Red Flags That Mean It’s 100% a Scam
If you’re still unsure, look for these "tell-tale" signs. Scammers are getting smarter, but they still make mistakes.
- Asking for Money: USPS will never, ever text you to ask for a "redelivery fee" or "unpaid customs charges." If you owe money, you’ll usually get a yellow slip (Form 3849) in your physical mailbox or you'll pay at the post office counter.
- Urgency and Threats: "Your package will be returned to sender in 2 hours!" This is a classic pressure tactic. USPS holds packages for days, sometimes weeks, before returning them.
- The "From" Number: If the text comes from a standard 10-digit phone number or an email address (like a Gmail account), it is a scam. Period.
- The Link: If you click it, the website might look exactly like the USPS site. But look at the address bar. If it isn't
usps.com, it's a fake.
What to Do If You Already Clicked
Honestly, it happens to the best of us. If you clicked the link and entered your info, you need to move fast.
First, if you gave them credit card info, call your bank and freeze that card immediately. Scammers love "small" $1.99 redelivery fees because people don't think twice about them, but once they have the card, they’ll hit you with much larger charges later.
Second, report the text. You can forward the message to 7726 (which spells "SPAM" on your keypad). This helps carriers block these numbers. You can also email a screenshot of the scam to spam@uspis.gov. That goes to the Postal Inspection Service, who actually have the power to hunt these guys down.
Next Steps to Stay Secure:
- Sign up for Informed Delivery via the official USPS website so you always know what is actually coming to your house.
- Block the sender of any suspicious text immediately; do not reply "STOP" as that just confirms your number is active.
- Manually type "usps.com" into your browser whenever you need to check a tracking number instead of clicking links in messages.