USPS Scam Emails - How to Protect Yourself

How to Spot the Scam

Scammers use psychological tricks, look-alike branding, and false urgency to steal your personal identifiable information and credit card data.

• The Fake Link Trap: The link will lead to a clone of the official website. It will ask you to input your address or pay a small fee (e.g., $1.50) to "redeliver" a package. Doing so hands your credit card data straight to criminals.
• The Fake Support Number: Phone numbers included in these emails or texts do not route to real USPS facilities. They route to scam call centers that attempt to extract your bank details or gain remote access to your device.
• Urgent, Defective Language: Messages usually claim a package "cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address" or "is on hold at the warehouse."
• The Senders are Random: Texts typically come from random 10-digit phone numbers or international emails, whereas legitimate USPS automated updates exclusively use verified 5-digit short codes.

What to Do Next

If you received one of these messages, handle it safely using the official reporting channels provided by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS):

1. Report and Delete the Message

• For Text Messages (Smishing): Take a screenshot of the text showing the sender's phone number and the date. Copy the body text of the message without clicking the link, paste it into an email, and send it to spam@uspis.gov. You should also forward the text message to 7726 (the universal spam reporting code for mobile carriers).
• For Emails (Phishing): Forward the suspicious email directly to cybersecurity@usps.gov. Delete the email immediately after forwarding.

2. If You Already Clicked the Link or Called the Number

• Contact Your Bank: If you entered any payment information or credit card numbers, immediately call your financial institution to freeze your cards and dispute unauthorized charges.
• Secure Your Accounts: If you entered account passwords, change them immediately across all platforms using a secure device.
• Scan for Malware: Clicking these links can silently download malicious software onto your smartphone or computer. Run a comprehensive mobile security or antivirus scan.

How to Safely Track Real Packages

Never use links inside text messages or emails. If you are genuinely expecting a package, navigate directly to the official USPS Tracking Portal and paste your tracking number directly into the search bar, or use the free USPS Informed Delivery dashboard to view inbound mail.