$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
shipping company impersonation scam
A message impersonating a major shipping company claims a package requires action — such as updating delivery details or paying a fee — and directs to a phishing site.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline consumers
Often hitsOnline shoppers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $12K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send bulk texts or emails impersonating shipping carriers during peak shopping periods.
2
Messages contain a link to a fake site requesting personal details, payment, or login credentials.
3
Harvested data is used for identity theft, account takeover, or unauthorized purchases.
What to do first
Check delivery status only through the carrier's official website or app using your tracking number.
Related terms
fake shipping notificationcarrier brand phishingdelivery company impersonationBrand impersonation scamsSMSSurgingOnline consumersMobile usersOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake shipping notificationcarrier brand phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jennifer, 35, a online consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using SMS. Scammers send bulk texts or emails impersonating shipping carriers during peak shopping periods.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Messages contain a link to a fake site requesting personal details, payment, or login credentials.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Harvested data is used for identity theft, account takeover, or unauthorized purchases.
The outcome
Jennifer realized something was wrong when text from an unknown number claims to be from ups, fedex, or usps with a shortened url. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Check delivery status only through the carrier's official website or app using your tracking number. Jennifer's experience shows why text from an unknown number claims to be from ups, fedex, or usps with a shortened url and message asks for a payment or personal information to release a package are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Text from an unknown number claims to be from UPS, FedEx, or USPS with a shortened URL
- Message asks for a payment or personal information to release a package
- You do not have any pending 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
- ✓Check delivery status only through the carrier's official website or app using your tracking number.
- ✓Do not click links in unsolicited delivery messages from unknown senders.
- ✓Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM).
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 reports that shipping-related phishing messages surge during holiday shopping seasons, with delivery scam texts ranking among the top reported SMS fraud types.
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.
- ✓Check delivery status only through the carrier's official website or app using your tracking number.
- ✓Do not click links in unsolicited delivery messages from unknown senders.
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 reports that shipping-related phishing messages surge during holiday shopping seasons, with delivery scam texts ranking among the top reported SMS fraud types.
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 consumers, Mobile users
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
SMS — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online consumers 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 reports that shipping-related phishing messages surge during holiday shopping seasons, with delivery scam texts ranking among the top reported SMS fraud types.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about shipping company impersonation scam
How does the shipping company impersonation scam work?+
Scammers send bulk texts or emails impersonating shipping carriers during peak shopping periods. Messages contain a link to a fake site requesting personal details, payment, or login credentials. Harvested data is used for identity theft, account takeover, or unauthorized purchases.
What are the warning signs of shipping company impersonation scam?+
Text from an unknown number claims to be from UPS, FedEx, or USPS with a shortened URL Message asks for a payment or personal information to release a package You do not have any pending deliveries
What should I do if I encounter shipping company impersonation scam?+
Check delivery status only through the carrier's official website or app using your tracking number. Do not click links in unsolicited delivery messages from unknown senders. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM).
Who is most at risk for shipping company impersonation scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online consumers, Mobile users. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on SMS.
Is shipping company impersonation scam getting worse?+
shipping company impersonation scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, 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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