USPS "package on hold" text: is it a scam?
Yes, treat it as a scam. USPS says it won't text or email you unless you've requested updates for a specific tracking number, and even then the message won't include a link. A text saying your parcel is on hold until you update your address or pay a redelivery fee is fake. The same trick is used with UPS, FedEx, DHL, Royal Mail, Evri and Canada Post.
What it looks like
USPS: Your package is on hold due to an incomplete address. Please update your details within 24 hours: https://usps-redelivery.parcel-help.top/track
An example in the style of real reports. The link is fake and shown as plain text so it can't be tapped.
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Signs it's fake
- You didn't sign up for texts and there's no tracking number you recognise.
- A 24 or 48-hour deadline before the parcel is "returned to sender".
- A small fee for redelivery or customs, which needs your full card details.
- The link isn't usps.com. Look for the real domain right before the first single slash.
- Odd wording or spacing, often written to slip past spam filters.
What to do
- Don't tap the link. If you're expecting a parcel, copy the tracking number from the shop's order email and enter it on usps.com yourself.
- Forward the text to 7726 and to the US Postal Inspection Service at
spam@uspis.gov. - Delete the message.
Already tapped it? Follow our step-by-step guide: I clicked a suspicious link. Now what?
Common questions
Does USPS charge a fee to redeliver a package?
Scheduling a redelivery on usps.com is free. A text asking you to pay a redelivery fee through a link is a scam.
How do I track a real package safely?
Take the tracking number from the shop's order confirmation and type it into the carrier's official website or app. Never use a tracking link from an unexpected text.
I entered my card details. What now?
Call your bank on the number on your card right away and ask them to block it. Scammers often use the address and card together for further fraud, so watch your statements.
Not sure about a link?
Paste it into SafeToHop. We read the address without opening it.