$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
delivery preference update scam
A phishing email or text asks you to update your delivery preferences or notification settings through a fake carrier portal, capturing your login credentials.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
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 posing as USPS, UPS, or FedEx asking you to update your delivery notification preferences.
2
The link leads to a spoofed carrier login page that captures your username and password.
3
Compromised carrier accounts expose your address history, delivery schedules, and any saved payment methods.
What to do first
Manage delivery preferences only by logging in directly through the carrier's official website or app.
Related terms
delivery settings phishingcarrier preference scamupdate delivery options scamPackage delivery scamsEmailSurgingOnline shoppersSmall business ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadadelivery settings phishingcarrier preference scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Kevin, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using Email. Scammers send messages posing as USPS, UPS, or FedEx asking you to update your delivery notification preferences.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The link leads to a spoofed carrier login page that captures your username and password.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Compromised carrier accounts expose your address history, delivery schedules, and any saved payment methods.
The outcome
Kevin realized something was wrong when unsolicited message asking you to update delivery preferences you never set. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Manage delivery preferences only by logging in directly through the carrier's official website or app. Kevin's experience shows why unsolicited message asking you to update delivery preferences you never set and link domain does not match the official carrier website are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unsolicited message asking you to update delivery preferences you never set
- Link domain does not match the official carrier website
- Message creates urgency by claiming your preferences will reset or your package will be returned
- 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
- ✓Manage delivery preferences only by logging in directly through the carrier's official website or app.
- ✓Do not click links in emails about delivery settings — navigate to the site yourself.
- ✓Use unique passwords for carrier accounts and enable two-factor authentication where available.
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.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
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.
- Major carriers including USPS, UPS, and FedEx warn on their websites that they do not send emails requesting customers to update preferences via embedded links.
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.
- ✓Manage delivery preferences only by logging in directly through the carrier's official website or app.
- ✓Do not click links in emails about delivery settings — navigate to the site yourself.
- ✓Use unique passwords for carrier accounts and enable two-factor authentication where available.
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.
Major carriers including USPS, UPS, and FedEx warn on their websites that they do not send emails requesting customers to update preferences via embedded links.
OpenScam research
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, Canada
Primary channel
Email — 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
- Major carriers including USPS, UPS, and FedEx warn on their websites that they do not send emails requesting customers to update preferences via embedded links.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about delivery preference update scam
How does the delivery preference update scam work?+
Scammers send messages posing as USPS, UPS, or FedEx asking you to update your delivery notification preferences. The link leads to a spoofed carrier login page that captures your username and password. Compromised carrier accounts expose your address history, delivery schedules, and any saved payment methods.
What are the warning signs of delivery preference update scam?+
Unsolicited message asking you to update delivery preferences you never set Link domain does not match the official carrier website Message creates urgency by claiming your preferences will reset or your package will be returned
What should I do if I encounter delivery preference update scam?+
Manage delivery preferences only by logging in directly through the carrier's official website or app. Do not click links in emails about delivery settings — navigate to the site yourself. Use unique passwords for carrier accounts and enable two-factor authentication where available.
Who is most at risk for delivery preference update scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is delivery preference update scam getting worse?+
delivery preference update scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. 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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