Holiday shipping is chaotic every year — packages going out, returns coming in, gifts arriving at odd hours. Scammers take full advantage of that chaos with one of the most common holiday scams: fake delivery problem messages.
These usually show up as texts or emails that say things like:
- “Your package could not be delivered.”
- “Delivery attempt failed — update your address.”
- “We’re holding your package. Click to reschedule.”
They often pretend to be from UPS, USPS, FedEx, or Amazon. And because many people actually are expecting packages, these messages feel believable.
Why they work
The scam relies on urgency. If you think a gift won’t arrive in time, you’re more likely to tap without thinking.
Once you click, the link usually leads to:
- a fake tracking page
- a login prompt
- a payment request for a “redelivery fee”
- or a page asking for personal info
Some even ask for your full address and credit card details.
How to stay safe
1️⃣ Check tracking directly
Use the official UPS, USPS, or FedEx website — not the link in the message.
2️⃣ Look for red flags
Scam delivery texts often come from random phone numbers, unusual email addresses, or use poor formatting.
3️⃣ Real carriers never ask you to pay to fix a delivery attempt
If there’s a charge, it’s almost always a scam.
4️⃣ Don’t enter personal info from a link
No legitimate carrier needs your Social Security number, birthdate, or full credit card information for a missed delivery.
5️⃣ When in doubt, forward it to me
I can confirm it in seconds and save you the headache.
Final Thoughts
Fake delivery problem scams spike in December — but with a few quick checks, they’re easy to avoid. Stay alert, trust your gut, and always verify before you click.