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Protection guide: Phishing & Smishing Guide
Reviewed by ScamReporting Editorial · Editorial standards
Reported July 2026 — Editors flagged elevated reports of package delivery tracking anxiety across U.S. consumer hotlines and reader submissions.
Quick answer
If a delivery text says your package is “on hold” and asks you to tap a link to confirm your address or pay a small fee, assume it’s smishing. Track packages only inside official apps or by typing the carrier’s website yourself.
How This Scam Works
- Urgent text: A message claims your package can’t be delivered due to address issues or unpaid postage.
- Look‑alike link: The URL uses extra words, misspellings, or a non-carrier domain.
- Card capture: You’re asked for a small “redelivery fee” (often under $5) to make it feel normal.
- Account takeover: Some pages also ask for passwords, then reuse them on email/bank accounts.
Red Flags
- The link is not the official carrier domain when you long‑press/preview it
- They claim you must pay immediately to avoid “return to sender”
- The page requests full card details for a tiny “fee”
- Spelling/grammar errors or unusual formatting in the text
- The message arrives when you didn’t order anything — or with no real tracking number
What To Do
- Don’t tap the link. Open the carrier’s official app or type the website directly.
- Paste the text into our Scam Checker to catch common smishing patterns.
- If you entered your card, contact your bank immediately and monitor for new charges.
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to our Report a Scam page.
Related reading: Amazon impersonation scam texts and smishing examples.
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