$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
UPS holiday shipping deadline scam
During peak holiday seasons, scammers send urgent emails claiming your package will miss the holiday deadline unless you pay an expedited shipping fee, harvesting payment details.
“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
During November and December, scammers blast emails and texts exploiting holiday shipping anxiety.
2
Messages claim a package will miss its delivery window unless an expedited shipping fee is paid immediately.
3
The payment page collects credit card details, which are used for fraud.
What to do first
Check your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number.
Related terms
UPS Christmas shipping scamholiday delivery fee fraudUPS seasonal phishingPackage delivery scamsUPSSurgingOnline shoppersParentsAdultsCreators and online sellersParents and familiesOnline shoppersUnited StatesCanadaUnited KingdomUPS Christmas shipping scamholiday delivery fee fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jessica, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using UPS. During November and December, scammers blast emails and texts exploiting holiday shipping anxiety.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Messages claim a package will miss its delivery window unless an expedited shipping fee is paid immediately.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The payment page collects credit card details, which are used for fraud.
The outcome
Jessica realized something was wrong when unsolicited message about a holiday shipping deadline for a package you may not have sent. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Check your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number. Jessica's experience shows why unsolicited message about a holiday shipping deadline for a package you may not have sent and urgency language — pay now or your gift will not arrive in time are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unsolicited message about a holiday shipping deadline for a package you may not have sent
- Urgency language — pay now or your gift will not arrive in time
- Fee requested through an unfamiliar payment portal
- 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 your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number.
- ✓Do not pay any unexpected fees through links in messages.
- ✓Report seasonal phishing to UPS at [email protected].
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.
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 BBB Scam Tracker sees a consistent annual spike in shipping-related scams between November and January, with UPS and FedEx being the most impersonated brands.
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.
- ✓Check your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number.
- ✓Do not pay any unexpected fees through links in messages.
- ✓Report seasonal phishing to UPS at [email protected].
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 BBB Scam Tracker sees a consistent annual spike in shipping-related scams between November and January, with UPS and FedEx being the most impersonated brands.
BBB Scam Tracker 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, Parents, Adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
UPS — 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 BBB Scam Tracker sees a consistent annual spike in shipping-related scams between November and January, with UPS and FedEx being the most impersonated brands.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about ups holiday shipping deadline scam
How does the ups holiday shipping deadline scam work?+
During November and December, scammers blast emails and texts exploiting holiday shipping anxiety. Messages claim a package will miss its delivery window unless an expedited shipping fee is paid immediately. The payment page collects credit card details, which are used for fraud.
What are the warning signs of ups holiday shipping deadline scam?+
Unsolicited message about a holiday shipping deadline for a package you may not have sent Urgency language — pay now or your gift will not arrive in time Fee requested through an unfamiliar payment portal
What should I do if I encounter ups holiday shipping deadline scam?+
Check your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number. Do not pay any unexpected fees through links in messages. Report seasonal phishing to UPS at [email protected].
Who is most at risk for ups holiday shipping deadline scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Parents, Adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on UPS.
Is ups holiday shipping deadline scam getting worse?+
UPS holiday shipping deadline scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. 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.