You’re sitting on your couch, maybe scrolling through TikTok or checking your email, when your phone buzzes. It’s a text. "U.S. Customs: Your USPS parcel is being cleared, but we detected an invalid zip code. The parcel is temporarily detained. Please confirm your information in the link within 24 hours."
Panic sets in. Did that package you ordered from overseas actually get stuck? Maybe it’s that gift for your mom or those clothes you forgot you bought at 2 a.m. last Tuesday.
Stop. Breathe. It’s a scam.
Honestly, the usps text scam reddit customs threads are blowing up right now for a reason. These hackers have gotten scary good at timing. They aren’t just sending random messages anymore; they’re using "shotgun" tactics to hit millions of people at once, knowing that at any given moment, thousands of us are actually waiting for a package.
Why the "Customs" Angle is So Effective
Most people know about the basic "redelivery fee" scam. That one is old news. But the customs version? That’s different. It feels official. It feels high-stakes.
When you hear "U.S. Customs," you think about federal agents, legal trouble, and seized property. Scammers lean into that fear. They use words like "detained," "cleared," and "action required" to make you bypass your logical brain and jump straight into "fix it" mode.
On Reddit, users in communities like r/Scams and r/phishing have noted that these texts often arrive right when they actually have an international shipment. While some think it’s a data breach at a shipping company, cybersecurity experts generally agree it's usually just a numbers game. If you send 100,000 texts, a few hundred people are bound to have a package at the border.
The Anatomy of the Scam
It usually starts with a text from a weird number. Maybe it has a +63 (Philippines) or +1 (but with a Canadian area code like Quebec) prefix.
The message claims there is a "zip code error" or a "missing house number." They give you a link. This link is the trap. It looks like it says "usps," but if you look closely, it’s something like informed-delivery-usps-clearance.top or usps-customs-update.com.
If you click it, you’re taken to a site that looks identical to the official USPS portal. The fonts, the colors, the logo—it’s all there. They ask for your address first. Simple enough, right? Then comes the kicker: a "redelivery fee" or "customs duty" of something tiny, like $0.30 or $1.25.
You think, It’s only a dollar. I’ll just pay it so I get my box.
That is the moment they win.
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They don't want your dollar. They want the credit card number, the CVV, and the billing address you just typed into their fake form. Within minutes, that card is being used to buy crypto, gift cards, or high-end electronics halfway across the world.
Real Red Flags Reddit Users Have Spotted
If you're looking at a text right now and wondering if it's the real deal, look for these specific "telltale" signs that r/Scams regulars point out:
- The URL is "off": USPS will only ever send you to
usps.com. If there is anything else before or after that—like.top,.xyz, orusps-package-tracking.com—it is a fraud. - The "Why" doesn't make sense: Think about it. If the post office has your phone number to text you, why don't they have your address? They are a mail delivery service. Having your address is literally their entire job.
- The urgency is fake: Government agencies and the USPS don't give you "24-hour ultimatums" via text message. If a package is truly stuck in customs, you’ll usually see that status on the official tracking page, and you might get a formal letter in the mail.
- No tracking number: Real USPS notifications (which you have to opt-in for) will include your specific tracking number. These scam texts almost never do.
What to Do if You Already Clicked
Look, it happens. These guys are professionals. If you entered your info, don't beat yourself up, but you need to move fast.
First, call your bank. Don't just "freeze" the card in the app—actually call the fraud department. Tell them you fell for a phishing scam. They need to issue you a new card number and, more importantly, disable the "automatic account updater" service. If they don't disable that, some merchants will automatically get your new card info, and the scammers might be able to keep charging you.
If you gave them your email and password, change your passwords immediately. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on everything.
What if you just clicked the link but didn't enter anything? You're probably okay, but your phone might have just "verified" to the scammer that your number is active. Expect an uptick in spam calls and texts over the next few weeks. Some sophisticated sites can also try to scrape "cookie" data from your mobile browser, so clearing your browser cache and cookies isn't a bad idea.
How to Handle These Texts Moving Forward
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is very clear about this: they do not send unsolicited texts with links.
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If you get one of these, do not reply "STOP." Don't reply at all. Replying tells the bot a human is on the other end. Instead, follow these steps:
- Copy the body of the text.
- Forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps carriers block the sender.
- Email a screenshot to
spam@uspis.gov. This helps federal investigators track the domains. - Delete and block.
The best way to track a package is always to go directly to usps.com and type in your tracking number manually. Never, ever use a link provided in a random text.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your "Informed Delivery": If you don't have it, sign up for the real USPS Informed Delivery on their official site. It lets you see exactly what's coming to your mailbox every day for free.
- Audit your accounts: If you’ve used the same password for your shipping accounts as your bank, change them now.
- Spread the word: If you have older parents or tech-illiterate friends, show them what these texts look like. They are the primary targets for these customs duty scams because they are more likely to trust the "official" branding.
Be skeptical. In 2026, a "convenient link" is almost always a digital trap. If the USPS really needs to talk to you about a package, they’ll leave a slip on your door or update the status on their own encrypted, official website. Anything else is just noise from someone trying to empty your bank account.