$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
address verification delivery scam
A text or email claims a package cannot be delivered because your address is incomplete and asks you to verify it through a phishing link that collects your full personal information.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$160
median reported loss
Typical range$16 – $1.6K
Recovery rate~20%
Annual reports160,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send messages claiming a carrier needs your full address to complete delivery.
2
The link directs to a form that requests name, address, phone number, and often payment details.
3
The collected personal information is used for identity theft or sold on dark web marketplaces.
What to do first
Contact the shipping carrier directly if you believe there is a genuine address issue with a package.
Related terms
delivery address update scamconfirm address phishingpackage address correction scamPackage delivery scamsSMSSurgingOnline shoppersSmall business ownersSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited Kingdomdelivery address update scamconfirm address phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Amanda, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using SMS. Scammers send messages claiming a carrier needs your full address to complete delivery.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The link directs to a form that requests name, address, phone number, and often payment details.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The collected personal information is used for identity theft or sold on dark web marketplaces.
The outcome
Amanda realized something was wrong when message claims your address is incomplete or undeliverable without specifying details. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Contact the shipping carrier directly if you believe there is a genuine address issue with a package. Amanda's experience shows why message claims your address is incomplete or undeliverable without specifying details and the link asks for far more information than just an address — such as date of birth or ssn are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Message claims your address is incomplete or undeliverable without specifying details
- The link asks for far more information than just an address — such as date of birth or SSN
- Message arrives from a short code or email that does not match any known carrier
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Contact the shipping carrier directly if you believe there is a genuine address issue with a package.
- ✓Never provide personal information through links in unsolicited text messages.
- ✓Report the message to 7726 (SPAM) and to the carrier's fraud department.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC warns that delivery notification scams are among the most common text message scams, with losses exceeding 330 million USD from text scams in 2024.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Contact the shipping carrier directly if you believe there is a genuine address issue with a package.
- ✓Never provide personal information through links in unsolicited text messages.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC warns that delivery notification scams are among the most common text message scams, with losses exceeding 330 million USD from text scams in 2024.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online shoppers, Small business owners
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom
Primary channel
SMS — Package delivery scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online shoppers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC warns that delivery notification scams are among the most common text message scams, with losses exceeding 330 million USD from text scams in 2024.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about address verification delivery scam
How does the address verification delivery scam work?+
Scammers send messages claiming a carrier needs your full address to complete delivery. The link directs to a form that requests name, address, phone number, and often payment details. The collected personal information is used for identity theft or sold on dark web marketplaces.
What are the warning signs of address verification delivery scam?+
Message claims your address is incomplete or undeliverable without specifying details The link asks for far more information than just an address — such as date of birth or SSN Message arrives from a short code or email that does not match any known carrier
What should I do if I encounter address verification delivery scam?+
Contact the shipping carrier directly if you believe there is a genuine address issue with a package. Never provide personal information through links in unsolicited text messages. Report the message to 7726 (SPAM) and to the carrier's fraud department.
Who is most at risk for address verification delivery scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom and typically appears on SMS.
Is address verification delivery scam getting worse?+
address verification delivery scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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