How to Avoid Fake USPS Tracking Number Scams: Complete Guide

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Your guide to recognizing and avoiding USPS tracking number scams

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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Identifying a Fake Tracking Number

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Avoiding Smishing Scams

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Reporting a Scam

Have you gotten a text message with what you think is a fake USPS tracking number? USPS tracking number scams (called "smishing" scams) are becoming more and more frequent due to the number of people shopping online. While these scams can be convincing, they are still easy to pick out if you know what to look for.

Things You Should Know

Use the USPS tracking number lookup website to determine if a tracking number is real or not.
USPS will never ask for payment or personal information over text.
Report any suspicious USPS-based text messages to scam@uspis.gov.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Identify a Fake USPS Tracking Number

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There are a few ways to identify a fake USPS tracking number. Scammers try to make these tracking numbers look as legitimate as possible, and unfortunately, they keep finding new ways to make convincing scams . However, there are a few steps you can take to identify a fake tracking number:
- Look up the tracking number on USPS's website. USPS has a website that lets you look up a tracking number. Without clicking on the link in the text message, type the tracking number into the USPS website and search for it. If the tracking number doesn't exist, it's fake.
- Check the sender's phone number. While the USPS will never initiate a text message to you regarding your package delivery status, if you do get messages from USPS, they will be from a 5-digit phone number. If the message sent to you is from a regular phone number or email address, this is a major indicator that the message is a scam attempt.
- Look at the URL of the link sent, if there is one. If the sender sent you a URL to click, check the link for anything odd. Scammers will spoof domains by adding extra words before or after the URL to make it look legitimate, and they often create legit-looking landing pages for these scammy URLs. If the link doesn't say usps.com , avoid clicking on it.
- The sender is asking for money or personal information. USPS will never ask you to pay for a package redelivery, nor will they ask for personal information over a text message. If the sender asks you for your credit card number, address, or name, or is asking you to pay for something, do not provide the information or payment.
- The sender is claiming to be USPS. USPS will never initiate a text message conversation with you about your package. If the sender is claiming to be the USPS, this indicates that the text message is a scam attempt, not a legitimate message from USPS, and that the tracking number is fake. ^{[1]
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- The tracking number looks strange or is invalid. Sometimes, scammers will include the fake tracking number in their text message. If the tracking number doesn't look right (such as being too short or too long), it's a scam. Also, you may get a legit-looking tracking number, but when you look it up, USPS states it's not valid—this is another sign that the tracking number is fake and you should not interact with the sender.
- The tracking number is legitimate, but the delivery information doesn't line up. Sometimes, scammers will send real tracking numbers to try to appear legitimate, but these tracking numbers are from previous deliveries that were already completed. If you look up the tracking number and the information about the delivery doesn't seem correct (such as the delivery date or delivery location), it's likely a scam.