Fake USPS / Customs Text Script
Texts impersonating postal services or customs agencies claim a parcel is held and demand a small fee or personal details via a phishing link.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
USPS: Your package [tracking number] requires a customs payment of [amount]. Complete by [date]: [fake link]
US Customs: Item held. Pay [amount] duty or your parcel will be returned. Verify now: [fake link]
Your shipment is delayed. Confirm your address and pay [amount] clearance fee: [fake link]
USPS Alert: delivery failed. Reschedule and pay [amount] redelivery: [fake link]
What the scammer wants
To make you enter card and address details on a fake page that harvests them for fraud, and to collect a small fee that adds up at scale.
Red flags in the message
- Unexpected text about a parcel you don't recognise ordering
- Small customs or redelivery fee with a tight deadline
- Link to a domain that is not the official postal service website
- Page asks for full card details to pay a minor fee
- No option to pay through the official carrier's app or website
- Tracking number that returns no results on the real carrier's site
A safe response
Do not click. Look up any real delivery using your order confirmation and the carrier's official website. Genuine customs fees are presented formally and never via unsolicited text links.
What not to send
- Card or bank details
- Personal information
- Any fee payment via the link
What to do if you already replied
- If you entered card details, contact your bank immediately to cancel the card
- Change passwords if you created an account on the fake page
- Monitor your accounts for unauthorised transactions
- Report the text to your national cybercrime reporting body
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times