Fake Tracking Number Scams on SMS / Text
Scam texts supply fake tracking numbers and links posing as shipment updates, leading to phishing pages that steal card and login details.
Part of: Fake Tracking Number Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
A fake tracking number text mirrors the genuine shipping alerts people receive constantly: a short update, a tracking reference, a link to follow the parcel. The format is so familiar that the fake version slips past suspicion, especially when an order is expected.
SMS suits this scam because real couriers text tracking updates, and a single tappable link leads to a convincing but fraudulent page. The bogus tracking number adds a sense of legitimacy that nudges the recipient to tap without checking.
How this scam works on SMS / text
The text says your parcel is in transit, delayed, or awaiting an action, and gives a tracking number with a link to 'view status' or 'resolve' the delivery. The sender ID may be styled to resemble a courier.
The link opens a cloned tracking or login page that harvests your credentials or card details, sometimes after requesting a small 'fee'. The tracking number leads nowhere genuine.
If you are awaiting a real parcel, the timing makes the fake update persuasive, prompting a tap before you verify with the retailer.
Common red flags
- A text gives a tracking number and link for a parcel you cannot confirm
- The link opens a tracking or login page requesting your details
- A small 'fee' is requested to release or redeliver the parcel
- The sender ID is styled to look like a courier
- The link's address does not match the courier's official domain
- You are urged to resolve a delivery issue quickly
How to protect yourself
- Track parcels only through the retailer or courier's official site or app
- Do not tap tracking links in unexpected texts
- Match any tracking number against your genuine order confirmation
- Never enter card or login details on a page reached from a text
- Delete the message and block the sender
- Check with the retailer if you are expecting a genuine parcel
How to report it
- Forward the text to your national smishing or spam reporting number where available
- Report the impersonation to the courier or retailer via its official site
- File a report with your local fraud or cybercrime reporting service
Frequently asked questions
I entered my details on a fake tracking page from a text — how do I secure my accounts afterward?
Change the password for any account you may have reused on that page, and contact your card provider if you entered payment details, asking about a replacement card. Monitor your accounts for a period afterward for any unusual activity.
Can I check a genuine tracking number safely by pasting it into the courier's website myself?
Yes — typing the courier's official website address into your browser yourself and entering the tracking number there directly is a safe way to check status, since you're avoiding any link the text provided. Just type the address rather than searching for it, to avoid landing on a lookalike site.
Why do fake tracking texts sometimes name a specific real courier company?
Naming a well-known, trusted courier makes the message feel more believable than a generic 'your parcel' claim, borrowing that company's reputation. The courier name in the text is not verification of anything — check any genuine shipment through that courier's actual app or website instead.
I got a tracking text but did not order anything — what is it?
A tracking text for a parcel you did not order is a scam. The link leads to a phishing page that steals your details. Ignore it, do not tap the link, and track any genuine orders through official channels instead.