You’re sitting on the couch, maybe halfway through a show, and your phone buzzes. It’s a text message. "USPS: Your package has arrived at the warehouse but cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address. Please update your details here."
There's a link. It looks official-ish.
But wait. Did you actually order something? Even if you did, something feels off. Maybe it’s the weird URL or the fact that it's 10:00 PM on a Tuesday. Honestly, you're right to be skeptical. The short answer is yes, the Postal Service does send texts, but probably not the one sitting in your inbox right now.
Does USPS Send Text Messages About Packages for Real?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) does have a legitimate text alert system. It's called USPS Text Tracking. But here’s the kicker: they don’t just start texting you out of the blue because they found a box with your name on it.
You have to ask for it.
If you didn’t go to the USPS website, type in a specific tracking number, and click "Text Updates," or if you didn't text a tracking number to 28777, then any message you get is almost certainly a scam. Scammers use a tactic called "smishing"—SMS phishing—to trick you into handing over credit card info or login credentials.
How the real system actually works
Let’s look at the actual way the post office communicates. If you’ve opted in, you’ll get updates from a 5-digit short code: 28777 (2USPS).
A real message from them is pretty dry. It’s basically just data. It’ll have the tracking number, the status (like "Delivered" or "Available for Pickup"), and the date/time.
Crucially, legitimate USPS tracking texts do not contain links. If you see a link that says something like usps-delivery-update.com or some random string of characters, delete it. USPS doesn't need you to click a link to "update your address" via text. They don't charge "redelivery fees" through a text message link either.
The Anatomy of a USPS Text Scam
Scammers are getting better, but they still leave breadcrumbs. They rely on you being in a hurry. They want you to see "Delivery Failure" and panic-click before you notice the red flags.
1. The "Incomplete Address" Hook
This is the most common one lately. The text claims your package is "stuck" because the address is wrong. Think about that for a second. If the post office doesn't have your correct address, how do they have your cell phone number to text you about it?
They don't.
2. The Sense of Urgency
"Action required within 24 hours" or "Your package will be returned to sender." This is classic social engineering. They want your brain to skip the logic phase and go straight to the "I need my stuff" phase.
3. Weird Links
Look at the URL. USPS is usps.com. Scammers use variations like:
usps-post-office.comredelivery-usps.com- Bitly links or other shortened URLs
4. Grammar and Spelling
Believe it or not, the Post Office is actually pretty good at proofreading their automated systems. If the text says "Your pakage is pending" or uses weird capitalization, it’s a fake.
What Happens if You Click?
Usually, the link leads to a "spoof" site. It looks exactly like the real USPS homepage. It might ask for a small "redelivery fee," maybe only $0.30 or $1.00.
The dollar amount doesn't matter to them.
What they want is for you to type your credit card number, expiration date, and CVV into their form. Once you hit submit, they have your financial info. In other cases, clicking the link might trigger a malware download that scrapes your phone for passwords. It's nasty stuff.
Informed Delivery: The Safer Alternative
If you actually want to know what’s coming to your house without playing "Guess the Scammer," you should sign up for Informed Delivery.
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It’s a free service where USPS scans the outside of your mail and packages and sends you a daily digest. You can see grayscale images of your letters before they even hit your mailbox.
Once you’re signed up, you can manage all your tracking in the official app or on the website. You don't have to rely on random texts because you can see the "Dashboard" of everything tied to your address. It's much cleaner and way more secure.
What to Do if You Get a Suspicious Text
First off, don't reply. Don't even text "STOP." Replying just tells the scammer that your number is active and there's a real person on the other end. That makes your number more valuable to them, and they'll sell it to other scammers.
Report it to the authorities
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) actually wants to know about these. They track the domains and try to shut them down.
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). This goes to your cell phone carrier so they can block the sender on their network.
- Email USPS. Take a screenshot of the text and send it to
spam@uspis.gov. - Delete and Block. After you've reported it, block the number and delete the thread.
Actionable Steps to Stay Secure
Kinda feels like the wild west out there sometimes, right? But you can protect yourself pretty easily with a few habits.
- Never click links in delivery texts. Period. Even if you think it's real, go to
usps.commanually and paste your tracking number there. - Check the sender. Real USPS texts come from 28777. If it's a full 10-digit phone number or an email address masquerading as a text, it's a fraud.
- Use a password manager. If you do accidentally click a link and land on a fake site, a good password manager won't "autofill" your credentials because it recognizes the URL doesn't match the real site.
- Sign up for Informed Delivery. It gives you a single source of truth for your mail so you never have to wonder if a "delivery exception" text is legit.
- Verify with the merchant. If you're worried about a specific order, check the "Orders" page on the site where you bought the item. They'll have the real tracking info.
The Postal Service is a massive government agency. They move millions of boxes a day. They aren't going to hunt down your personal cell number to tell you that your zip code is missing a digit. Stay sharp, keep your info to yourself, and when in doubt, just go to the official website directly.