Medium severitySmishing (SMS Phishing)
Fake Package Delivery Text Messages
Updated July 23, 2026
Text messages claiming a delivery failed or needs a small fee, linking to a fake USPS or UPS page.
Warning signs
- Text from an unrecognized number claiming a package couldn't be delivered.
- A link to a domain that isn't usps.com, ups.com, or fedex.com.
- A request for a small 'redelivery fee' via card details.
What to do
- Don't tap the link. Delete the message or report it as junk.
- Check delivery status directly through the carrier's official app or website.
- Report the number to your carrier (forward to 7726 / "SPAM") if you're in the US.
This is a recurring pattern nationally, not specific to any single carrier or region, and it tends to spike around major shopping seasons.
The linked page usually mimics a real carrier's branding closely and asks for a card number 'to release your package' — a legitimate carrier will never ask for payment this way over text.
This write-up is an educational summary of a known scam pattern, not a real-time threat alert, and does not name any specific Augusta-area victim, business, or law enforcement case.