$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake shipping notification scam
Scammers send fake shipping notifications via text or email impersonating carriers like USPS, FedEx, or UPS during the holidays, leading victims to phishing sites or malware downloads.
“holiday shopping scam”
→ 0%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsCreators and online sellers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
During peak holiday shipping season, scammers send mass texts and emails claiming a package delivery failed and providing a link to reschedule or track.
2
The link leads to a phishing site that collects personal information and credit card details under the guise of paying a small redelivery fee.
3
Some variants download malware that monitors the victim's online activity and captures future login credentials.
What to do first
Do not click links in unexpected shipping notifications — track packages directly on the carrier's official website.
Related terms
fake delivery notificationholiday smishing scamHoliday shopping scamsSMSStableOnline shoppersAdultsSeniorsCreators and online sellersRetirees and seniorsOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomfake delivery notificationholiday smishing 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 holiday shopping scams situation while using SMS. During peak holiday shipping season, scammers send mass texts and emails claiming a package delivery failed and providing a link to reschedule or track.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The link leads to a phishing site that collects personal information and credit card details under the guise of paying a small redelivery fee.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Some variants download malware that monitors the victim's online activity and captures future login credentials.
The outcome
Kevin realized something was wrong when tracking link goes to a domain that is not the official carrier website. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Do not click links in unexpected shipping notifications — track packages directly on the carrier's official website. Kevin's experience shows why tracking link goes to a domain that is not the official carrier website and message asks for payment to release or redeliver a package are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Tracking link goes to a domain that is not the official carrier website
- Message asks for payment to release or redeliver a package
- Notification arrives for a package you did not order
- 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
- ✓Do not click links in unexpected shipping notifications — track packages directly on the carrier's official website.
- ✓Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to the impersonated carrier.
- ✓Legitimate carriers never ask for payment via text message to deliver a package.
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 reported that delivery notification scams were the number one text message scam category in 2024, with reported losses exceeding 330 million dollars.
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.
- ✓Do not click links in unexpected shipping notifications — track packages directly on the carrier's official website.
- ✓Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to the impersonated carrier.
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 reported that delivery notification scams were the number one text message scam category in 2024, with reported losses exceeding 330 million dollars.
FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 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, Adults, Seniors
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
SMS — Holiday shopping 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 ongoing nature of 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 reported that delivery notification scams were the number one text message scam category in 2024, with reported losses exceeding 330 million dollars.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel Network 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake shipping notification scam
How does the fake shipping notification scam work?+
During peak holiday shipping season, scammers send mass texts and emails claiming a package delivery failed and providing a link to reschedule or track. The link leads to a phishing site that collects personal information and credit card details under the guise of paying a small redelivery fee. Some variants download malware that monitors the victim's online activity and captures future login credentials.
What are the warning signs of fake shipping notification scam?+
Tracking link goes to a domain that is not the official carrier website Message asks for payment to release or redeliver a package Notification arrives for a package you did not order
What should I do if I encounter fake shipping notification scam?+
Do not click links in unexpected shipping notifications — track packages directly on the carrier's official website. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to the impersonated carrier. Legitimate carriers never ask for payment via text message to deliver a package.
Who is most at risk for fake shipping notification scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Adults, Seniors. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on SMS.
Is fake shipping notification scam still active?+
fake shipping notification scam is currently on our watch list. It has been reported across US, CA, UK, AU. 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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