$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
shipping label phishing scam
An email with an attachment labeled as a shipping label, invoice, or receipt contains malware that infects your device when opened.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$240
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $2.4K
Recovery rate~20%
Annual reports160,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send emails impersonating carriers with an attachment described as a shipping label, receipt, or invoice.
2
The attachment contains malware — often a trojan or ransomware — disguised as a document file.
3
Opening the attachment infects the device, potentially compromising all stored data and credentials.
What to do first
Never open email attachments from unknown senders or unexpected shipping notifications.
Related terms
malware shipping label emailfake invoice attachment scamcarrier attachment malwarePackage delivery scamsEmailSurgingOnline shoppersSmall business ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadamalware shipping label emailfake invoice attachment scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jennifer, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using Email. Scammers send emails impersonating carriers with an attachment described as a shipping label, receipt, or invoice.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The attachment contains malware — often a trojan or ransomware — disguised as a document file.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Opening the attachment infects the device, potentially compromising all stored data and credentials.
The outcome
Jennifer realized something was wrong when unexpected email with an attachment in .zip, .exe, .doc, or .pdf format claiming to be a shipping label. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never open email attachments from unknown senders or unexpected shipping notifications. Jennifer's experience shows why unexpected email with an attachment in .zip, .exe, .doc, or .pdf format claiming to be a shipping label and email urges you to print the attached label immediately or your package will not ship are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unexpected email with an attachment in .zip, .exe, .doc, or .pdf format claiming to be a shipping label
- Email urges you to print the attached label immediately or your package will not ship
- Sender address does not match a known carrier domain
- 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
- ✓Never open email attachments from unknown senders or unexpected shipping notifications.
- ✓Verify shipments directly on the carrier's website before interacting with any email content.
- ✓Keep antivirus software updated and enable automatic scanning of email attachments.
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.
- Security researchers consistently identify shipping notification emails as one of the top vectors for malware distribution, particularly during peak shopping seasons.
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.
- ✓Never open email attachments from unknown senders or unexpected shipping notifications.
- ✓Verify shipments directly on the carrier's website before interacting with any email content.
- ✓Keep antivirus software updated and enable automatic scanning of email attachments.
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.
Security researchers consistently identify shipping notification emails as one of the top vectors for malware distribution, particularly during peak shopping seasons.
FBI IC3 2024
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, 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
- Security researchers consistently identify shipping notification emails as one of the top vectors for malware distribution, particularly during peak shopping seasons.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about shipping label phishing scam
How does the shipping label phishing scam work?+
Scammers send emails impersonating carriers with an attachment described as a shipping label, receipt, or invoice. The attachment contains malware — often a trojan or ransomware — disguised as a document file. Opening the attachment infects the device, potentially compromising all stored data and credentials.
What are the warning signs of shipping label phishing scam?+
Unexpected email with an attachment in .zip, .exe, .doc, or .pdf format claiming to be a shipping label Email urges you to print the attached label immediately or your package will not ship Sender address does not match a known carrier domain
What should I do if I encounter shipping label phishing scam?+
Never open email attachments from unknown senders or unexpected shipping notifications. Verify shipments directly on the carrier's website before interacting with any email content. Keep antivirus software updated and enable automatic scanning of email attachments.
Who is most at risk for shipping label phishing scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is shipping label phishing scam getting worse?+
shipping label phishing 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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