UPS Scam Text: How to Spot a Fake UPS Delivery Text (2025)

UPS is one of the most impersonated delivery brands in text message scams — for the same reason as USPS: millions of Americans expect UPS deliveries on any given day, making a delivery notification feel immediately plausible. The fake UPS text typically claims a package couldn’t be delivered, is being held, or requires action to schedule delivery — with a link that leads to a fraudulent data collection site.

—

What UPS Scam Texts Look Like

The Delivery Failure Notice

“UPS: We attempted to deliver your package but were unable to complete delivery. Reschedule here: [link]”

“UPS Alert: Your package [fake tracking number] has been returned to our facility. Schedule redelivery: [link]”

The UPS Ground Variant

“UPS Ground: Your shipment is delayed. Update your delivery preferences: [link]”

The specific mention of “UPS Ground” (generating 1.1K monthly searches as a scam variant) suggests scammers have found this framing generates more clicks.

The Small Fee Variant

“UPS: Your package requires a delivery address confirmation fee of $1.99. Pay here to release your shipment: [link]”

—

How to Know If a UPS Text Is Real

Real UPS texts come from UPS’s official notification system, which uses registered short codes. A random 10-digit number is not UPS.

UPS only sends delivery notifications to people who have signed up for UPS My Choice alerts or who have tracking numbers associated with their email/phone. If you haven’t ordered anything and aren’t expecting a package, a UPS delivery notification is suspicious.

Verify at ups.com: go directly to ups.com and use the tracking tool with any tracking number you have. If the text doesn’t match a real shipment in UPS’s system, it’s a scam.

Real UPS communications never request payment of fees through a text link.

—

What to Do and How to Report

Do not click links or provide payment through a text-linked page.

Verify at ups.com if you have a real tracking number to check.

Report:

Forward to 7726 (SPAM).

Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Report to UPS directly: fraud@ups.com — UPS accepts reports of fraudulent communications using their brand.

If you provided payment information: Contact your bank immediately.

→ Back to Pillar: https://www.scammed.org/text-scams/