USPS (United States Postal Service) is a postal service operating in the United States.
About USPS scam texts, emails and phone calls
Text or email scams that use courier or postal companies as bait usually try and trick a recipient into believing a parcel is being held for them and they need to click a link to get the parcel delivered. Alternatively the scams can purport to offer a way for a recipient to track a pending delivery.
Such scams take on various guises. These can include -
- The claim that a delivery has been attempted but was unsuccessful, and the recipient needs to click a link to rearrange delivery
- The claim that a parcel cannot be delivered until extra shipping fees or custom fees are paid by clicking a link
- The claim that the recipient needs to sort out a problem with a pending delivery
- The claim the recipient should install a tracking app which they can download by clicking a link
In all cases, the crooks are attempting to lure a recipient into either downloading harmful files (malware) or visiting a spoof website which harvests any information entered into it. The site can ask for personal information as well as financial information under the false pretense that the victim is paying for a parcel to be delivered. All of these details are then sent to cyber crooks.
The below examples all claim that there is a pending delivery waiting for the recipient and they need to either click a link (to a spoof website) or reply with personal information.
The below is a similar social engineering trick, only in email form and asking the user to open an attached file (which will lead to a malware infection.)
Report a USPS phone, text and email scam.
How to report a USPS scam text?
You can forward scam text messages to USPS at spam@uspis.gov
How to report a USPS scam email?
You can forward scam email messages to USPS at CyberSafe@usps.gov
If you're in the UK, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam emails can be forwarded to The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the police via ActionFraud by calling 0300 123 2040 (or 101 in Scotland) or by using ActionFraud's online reporting tool here.
If you're in the USA, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their complaint assistant here or by calling 1-877-382-4357 (9am-8pm ET)
From a different country? Click here.
You can also forward SMS or email scams to us at scam@thatsfake.com
Avoiding USPS text and email scams
The best way to avoid failing for a phishing scam likes these is to avoid clicking on links in any unexpected email or text message that claims to come from a courier or postal service. This is especially true of text messages or emails that claim you need to rearrange a missed or failed delivery or pay shipping fees.
Most courier companies or postal services will leave a missed delivery card if a delivery was not successful. This delivery card will contain contact information if you are required to rearrange a delivery, and you can always make sure that the contact information is genuine by heading to the website of the courier company in question.
NO courier company or postal service will demand payments through unexpected text messages or emails.
If you do click a link on a text or email, it will probably lead to a spoof website. This can be confirmed by looking at the web address of the webpage you’re directed to and checking if it is the official website belonging to the courier company, and not a random domain name or a domain made to look like it belongs to a courier company.
For example, if a courier company's website is www.CompanyA.com, then make sure you're on www.CompanyA.com and not, for example, www.reschedule-parcel-companyA.com.
But to reiterate the above advice, don't click on any links in unexpected texts or emails. If you're not sure if an email or text is legitimate, go to head courier company's website and contact them using their listed contact information.