You’re waiting for a package. Maybe it’s those new boots or a replacement charging cable you ordered at 2:00 AM. Then, your phone buzzes. It’s a text from a random number or a weird email address claiming your "package delivery has been suspended" due to a missing house number. It looks official-ish. But you pause. Would USPS text me out of the blue like this?
The short answer is a flat no.
Unless you specifically went to the USPS website, typed in a tracking number, and manually signed up for text alerts for that specific box, the United States Postal Service is not going to send you a text. They don't have your phone number linked to your mail by default. They don't know who you are in that way. It’s a massive operation, but it’s not that proactive.
The Anatomy of the USPS Text Scam
Smishing. That's the technical term for SMS phishing. It’s become an epidemic. In 2025 and heading into 2026, these attacks have shifted from clumsy, misspelled messes to highly sophisticated psychological traps.
The scammers usually follow a predictable script. You get a message saying there's an "incomplete address" or a "unpaid customs fee." They include a link. That link is the poison pill. It leads to a website that looks exactly like the real USPS.com—red, white, and blue branding, the eagle logo, the works. Once you're there, they ask for your "updated" address and then, the real prize: your credit card information to pay a "re-delivery fee" of 30 cents or some other negligible amount.
It’s never about the 30 cents. It’s about getting your card number.
Why the "Incomplete Address" Trick Works
It’s clever because it’s plausible. We’ve all lived in apartments where the mailman struggles to find the unit, or maybe we really did forget to type "Street" instead of "Avenue." The scammers lean into that tiny bit of doubt in your mind.
Honestly, the USPS doesn't care if your address is incomplete in that specific way. If they can’t deliver it, they take it back to the local post office. They might leave a physical "Peach Slip" (PS Form 3849) on your door. They won't hunt down your mobile number and send a friendly text. They simply don't have the infrastructure—or the interest—to do that.
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When the USPS Actually Does Text You
I want to be clear here because there is a scenario where a text from the Post Office is legitimate. It’s called USPS Text Tracking™.
But here is the catch: You have to start it.
You go to the official USPS tracking page. You enter your tracking number. You click on "Text & Email Updates." Only after you opt-in for a specific package will you receive a message. Even then, the message comes from a five-digit short code (28777). If the message comes from a full 10-digit phone number or an email address like "office-update-usps@gmail.com," delete it immediately. It’s fake.
How to Verify a Text is Real
- Check the sender. Is it 28777?
- Did you ask for this alert in the last 48 hours?
- Does the message contain a link to a https://www.google.com/search?q=non-USPS.com domain? (Watch out for lookalikes like usps-delivery-update.top or https://www.google.com/search?q=usps.receive-package.com).
- Does it ask for money? USPS never asks for payment via text to release a package.
The Problem with Informed Delivery
Many people get confused because of Informed Delivery. This is a great service where USPS emails you a grayscale image of the mail arriving in your box that day. It’s super helpful for knowing if that tax refund finally showed up.
However, even with Informed Delivery, the primary communication is via email or the official app. If you’ve signed up for this, you might be more prone to clicking a link because you’re used to hearing from them. Scammers know this. They bank on the fact that millions of Americans are now conditioned to expect digital notifications about their physical mail.
If you get a text about a package you see in your Informed Delivery dashboard, still don't click the link in the text. Open your browser, go to USPS.com manually, and check the status there. It takes an extra twenty seconds. It saves you three days of calling your bank to cancel your cards.
Real Stories: The "Redelivery Fee" Trap
I spoke with a postal inspector recently—off the record, of course—and they mentioned that the most successful scams are the ones that create a sense of urgency. "Your package will be returned to sender in 2 hours."
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Think about the logic. The USPS moves at its own pace. They aren't going to send a package back to a different state or country within two hours of a failed delivery. Usually, it sits at your local annex for 15 days.
One victim, let's call her Sarah, lost over $4,000 because of one of these texts. She clicked the link, saw the official-looking site, and entered her debit card for a $1.20 "storage fee." Within an hour, her bank account was drained via Zelle and wire transfers. The scammers didn't just want the $1.20; they installed a keylogger on her phone via the site or simply used the card info she typed in to access her digital wallet.
The Technological Shift in Smishing
Scammers are now using iMessage and RCS to send these texts. Why? Because these platforms allow them to send messages over data/Wi-Fi, bypassing some of the traditional carrier filters that catch spam SMS.
You might see a message that looks like a group chat or one that comes from a "Business Profile." Don't let the blue bubble fool you. Apple and Google try to filter these, but the volume is just too high. Thousands of these are sent every minute.
Identifying Dangerous URLs
Scammers love using URL shorteners or slightly misspelled domains.
- Real: usps.com/
- Fake: https://www.google.com/search?q=usps-help.com
- Fake: track-usps.info
- Fake: bit.ly/delivery-updates-123
If you see a "dot top" (.top) or "dot xyz" (.xyz) extension, it is almost 100% a scam. These domains are incredibly cheap to register and are favored by criminal networks in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
What to Do if You Already Clicked
If you’re reading this and realized, "Oh no, I just did that," don't panic. But move fast.
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First, if you entered any financial information, call your bank immediately. Don't wait for a suspicious charge to appear. Tell them you were a victim of a phishing scam. They will cancel your card and issue a new one.
Second, if you downloaded any "tracking app" from the link, delete it. It’s likely malware. In extreme cases, you might want to factory reset your phone if you noticed it acting strangely—overheating or battery draining—right after the click.
Third, report the text. You can forward the message to 7726 (which spells SPAM on most keypads). This helps carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile block the sender’s number for everyone. You should also email a screenshot of the text to spam@uspis.gov. That’s the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. They actually do investigate these, and your screenshot could provide the digital breadcrumbs they need to shut down a server.
Red Flags That Never Lie
Even if the text looks perfect, there are "tells" that the Post Office just wouldn't do.
- Grammar slips: "Your package have been hold." USPS has a massive PR and communications team. They don't make subject-verb agreement errors in their automated systems.
- Odd Hours: Receiving a text at 3:15 AM? The USPS isn't processing "address corrections" in the middle of the night.
- The "Friendly" Tone: "Hey there! We tried to drop off your parcel today but missed you." USPS automated messages are dry, boring, and strictly functional. They don't use "Hey there" or "parcel." They use "Item" or "Package."
Practical Steps to Protect Yourself
The best defense is a healthy dose of cynicism. We want to believe our packages are coming, and that desire makes us vulnerable.
- Bookmark the real site: Keep USPS.com in your favorites. Never navigate there via a link in a text or email.
- Use the App: The official USPS Mobile app is secure. If you want updates, check them there.
- Ignore the "Urgency": Nothing at the Post Office is so urgent that it requires a text message response within minutes.
- Check the Tracking Number: If the text provides a tracking number, copy it and paste it directly into Google or the USPS website. If the number doesn't exist in their system, the text is a lie.
Final Reality Check
The postal service is a government-adjacent entity. They operate on bureaucracy and physical paper. If they really need to reach you about a delivery issue, you’ll find a slip of paper in your physical mailbox or a notice on your door. That is their "text message."
If you get a message on your phone asking for money or personal details to "fix" a delivery, it's a scam. Every single time.
Actionable Next Steps
- Block the sender: Immediately block the number that sent the suspicious text.
- Report to USPIS: Send a screenshot of the message to spam@uspis.gov to help their ongoing investigations.
- Forward to SPAM: Forward the text message to 7726 to alert your cellular provider.
- Audit your accounts: If you clicked a link, check your "Sent" folders in email and your bank statements for any unauthorized activity over the next 48 hours.