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USPS scam texts are a growing scourge. To make sure you don’t fall victim, you need to learn how USPS scams work and the real USPS tracking phone numbers to look out for. Then, install industry-leading cybersecurity protection like Avast One to help protect your device from the malicious links and phishing attacks often found in scam texts.
USPS scams usually start with a fake text message about a delivery issue, with a request for personal information, a re-delivery fee, or a link to a scam website. If you receive a USPS text message like this and you aren’t expecting a delivery, it’s likely a scam.
This Article Contains:
United States Postal Service (USPS) scam texts look like many other phishing scams. They often include odd language, grammatical mistakes, a sense of urgency, and point to website addresses that are just slightly different from real ones. The following USPS smishing (SMS phishing) example contains a link using USP instead of USPS, grammatical and capitalization mistakes, and an urgent request for personal information.
Legitimate USPS texts will always include your tracking number, which you can double-check on their official website. USPS scam texts follow many of the same patterns as PayPal scams, spear phishing attacks, and even scams on Instagram: they all use social engineering tactics to try to trick you into clicking on scam links.
Here’s how you can identify a USPS scam text:
No tracking number, or a fake one that doesn’t exist on the official USPS website
A sense of urgency to share personal info, like your address
Spelling, grammar, or other language mistakes
Links to website addresses that are spelled slightly differently from official USPS sites
Demands for extra re-delivery fees
If you’ve signed up for USPS Text Tracking, USPS does send legitimate text messages. Here’s some information that real USPS text messages typically contain:
Tracking number
Sender (from USPS)
Status (Available for Pickup, Delivered)
Date, time, and/or location information
Instructions for how to stop text updates
Think before you act.
Even if you’ve registered for USPS Text Tracking notifications, check the sender’s identity online before you do anything more.
Don't click any links or attachments.
Clicking links inside a USPS scam text message may install a virus or other malware on your device. If you accidentally click, run a malware scan immediately.
Report the scam texts.
Contact USPS Support or the company the scam text is impersonating to report the scam immediately. This can help them warn other customers and stop future scams.
Don’t reply.
Replying can help scammers verify that your number is active. Instead, delete all spam text messages and block the senders.
Check your phone bill.
If you’ve received an influx of scam texts or spam recently, check your phone bill for extra charges. Strange transactions could mean someone spoofed your phone number.
Install an anti-malware tool.
Install a trusted antivirus tool to help catch threats hiding on your device and protect you from malicious links and downloads often hidden in scam texts.
As digital communication grows, so do the scams that go along with it. Avast One alerts you if your accounts are connected to known data breaches, helping to give you time to change your passwords before real damage can be done.
Better yet, Avast One helps protect your device in real time by detecting and blocking malicious downloads and websites that may be linked in scam messages. Help protect your device, accounts, and personal data with Avast One. Install it for free today.
The USPS Text Tracking phone number is 28777 (2USPS). In the text body, write your tracking number or predefined keyword. USPS will reply with the correct tracking information. Or, you can call the International Inquiry Center for support at +1 800-222-1811.
If you open a scam text link only to realize it’s not an actual tracking link, run a virus removal scan to ensure you didn’t accidentally download any hidden malware. To protect your device against malicious scam links in the future, install an all-in-one antivirus and security tool like Avast One.