$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
missed delivery notice scam
A fake 'missed delivery' slip is left on your door or sent via text, directing you to a fraudulent website or phone number to reschedule — where your personal information is harvested.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsCreators and online sellers
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 leave physical door tags or send text messages claiming a delivery was attempted.
2
The notice provides a phone number or URL to 'reschedule' that leads to a scammer.
3
Victims are asked for personal details, payment information, or are directed to download malware.
What to do first
Verify delivery attempts by entering any tracking number directly on the carrier's official website.
Related terms
fake delivery slipmissed package notice scamdoor tag phishingPackage delivery scamsSMSSurgingOnline shoppersHoliday shoppersCreators and online sellersOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadafake delivery slipmissed package notice scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Priya, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using SMS. Scammers leave physical door tags or send text messages claiming a delivery was attempted.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The notice provides a phone number or URL to 'reschedule' that leads to a scammer.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims are asked for personal details, payment information, or are directed to download malware.
The outcome
Priya realized something was wrong when the notice lacks specific carrier branding or has a generic design. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify delivery attempts by entering any tracking number directly on the carrier's official website. Priya's experience shows why the notice lacks specific carrier branding or has a generic design and the reschedule link or phone number does not match the carrier's official contact information are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The notice lacks specific carrier branding or has a generic design
- The reschedule link or phone number does not match the carrier's official contact information
- You were not expecting any deliveries
- 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
- ✓Verify delivery attempts by entering any tracking number directly on the carrier's official website.
- ✓Do not call phone numbers or visit URLs printed on suspicious delivery notices.
- ✓Report fake delivery notices to your local postal inspection service.
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 USPS Postal Inspection Service warns that fraudulent missed delivery notices — both physical and digital — are used to redirect victims to phishing sites.
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.
- ✓Verify delivery attempts by entering any tracking number directly on the carrier's official website.
- ✓Do not call phone numbers or visit URLs printed on suspicious delivery notices.
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 USPS Postal Inspection Service warns that fraudulent missed delivery notices — both physical and digital — are used to redirect victims to phishing sites.
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, Holiday shoppers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
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 USPS Postal Inspection Service warns that fraudulent missed delivery notices — both physical and digital — are used to redirect victims to phishing sites.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about missed delivery notice scam
How does the missed delivery notice scam work?+
Scammers leave physical door tags or send text messages claiming a delivery was attempted. The notice provides a phone number or URL to 'reschedule' that leads to a scammer. Victims are asked for personal details, payment information, or are directed to download malware.
What are the warning signs of missed delivery notice scam?+
The notice lacks specific carrier branding or has a generic design The reschedule link or phone number does not match the carrier's official contact information You were not expecting any deliveries
What should I do if I encounter missed delivery notice scam?+
Verify delivery attempts by entering any tracking number directly on the carrier's official website. Do not call phone numbers or visit URLs printed on suspicious delivery notices. Report fake delivery notices to your local postal inspection service.
Who is most at risk for missed delivery notice scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Holiday shoppers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on SMS.
Is missed delivery notice scam getting worse?+
missed delivery notice 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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