What Number Does USPS Text From Explained (Simply)

Honestly, if you've ever stared at a weird text about a "missed delivery" and wondered if it’s legit, you’re definitely not alone. It’s stressful. You’re waiting for a package, your phone buzzes, and suddenly some random 10-digit number is telling you your address is "incomplete." But here’s the thing: the post office doesn't really work that way. If you want to know what number does usps text from, the answer is actually very specific, and it’s almost never a regular phone number.

Most of the time, the real USPS only talks to you through what they call "short codes." These are those five-digit numbers that look like they're missing half their digits.

The Only Numbers You Should Trust

There are basically two main "official" numbers you will see if the communication is actually coming from the United States Postal Service.

• 28777 (2USPS): This is the heavy hitter. If you’ve signed up for Text Tracking™ or if you’ve texted your tracking number to the USPS to get an update, this is where the reply comes from. It’s their primary lane for package updates.
• 34100: You’ll see this one if you’re dealing with account-level stuff. Think along the lines of "Account Recovery" or when you’re setting up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for your USPS.com profile.

If you get a text from a "regular" phone number—the kind with an area code like (555) or even an international code like +44—it is almost certainly a scam. USPS doesn't use personal cell phones to tell you your package is stuck in a warehouse. They just don't.

Why You’re Getting These Texts Anyway

The post office is pretty strict about one thing: they don't text you unless you asked them to. This is a huge distinction. If you didn't go to the USPS website, enter your tracking number, and specifically click "Text Updates," or if you didn't sign up for Informed Delivery, you shouldn't be getting texts from them at all.

Ever.

Scammers love the "incomplete address" trick. They send out thousands of texts hoping a few people actually are waiting for a package. It's a numbers game. They want you to click a link that looks like "https://www.google.com/search?q=usps-delivery-help.com" or something equally fake. Once you’re there, they’ll ask for a "redelivery fee" of maybe 30 cents. It sounds small, right? But the goal isn't the 30 cents; it’s getting your credit card info into their system.

How to Tell if a Text is Real

Aside from checking what number does usps text from, look at the content. A real USPS text is boring. It's functional. It usually contains:

1. The actual tracking number (which you should already have).
2. The status (Delivered, Out for Delivery, etc.).
3. Instructions to text "STOP" to cancel or "HELP" for info.

It won't have spelling errors. It won't use weird capitalization. And most importantly, it won't threaten to "return to sender" within 24 hours unless you click a suspicious link.

One thing I always tell people is to check the link. If you’re a user of Informed Delivery, you know the drill. Official links will always point to usps.com. Not usps-package-update.net. Not delivery-usps.com. Just usps.com.

The "Quiet Time" Feature You Probably Didn't Know About

If you actually are using the real 28777 service, you can actually control when they bug you. Most people don't realize you can text "Quiet" to 28777. This tells the system to stop sending you updates between 11 PM CST and 7 AM CST. If you want them to start up again, you just text "Awake." It’s a nice little touch for those of us who don't want to be woken up at 3 AM because a package just arrived at a sorting facility in Ohio.

What to Do if You Get a Fake One

If a random number texts you claiming to be the post office, don't reply. Even texting "STOP" to a scammer is bad because it tells them your number is active and monitored by a real person.

Instead, do this:

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• Forward the message to 7726. This is the universal "SPAM" reporting number for most major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
• Email the details to spam@uspis.gov. This goes to the Postal Inspection Service. They actually track these "smishing" campaigns (SMS phishing).
• Delete and block. Once you’ve reported it, get it off your phone so you don't accidentally click it later while you're half-asleep.

It’s easy to feel like you’re missing something important, especially during the holidays or a busy shipping season. But remember: if there is a real problem with your mail, the USPS is way more likely to leave a physical peach-colored slip on your door than they are to send you a text from a random 10-digit number.

Keep your eye on those short codes—28777 and 34100—and ignore everything else.

Next Steps for Security

• Verify Your Tracking: If you're worried about a package, never click the link in the text. Instead, manually type usps.com into your browser and paste your tracking number there.
• Sign up for Informed Delivery: This is the safest way to track mail. It gives you a daily preview of what’s coming to your box without relying on individual text alerts.
• Check Your MFA: Make sure your USPS account has Multi-Factor Authentication turned on so that any texts from 34100 are actually because you are trying to log in.