Holiday Package Delay Text Scam: The Grift That Hits Before the Gifts

Holiday Package Delay Text Scam: The Grift That Hits Before the Gifts

By Greg Collier

With more than two billion packages moving across the country this holiday season, scammers aren’t just watching—they’re waiting. And they know exactly how to strike.

As orders flood in from Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, millions of people are tracking shipments, checking updates, and anticipating deliveries. Scammers see this as the perfect moment to slip into your text messages with one simple line:

“Your package is delayed. Click here.”

But not all of these alerts are real.

Authorities are warning about a surge in fake package-delay text messages, many traced to international numbers and fraudulent delivery sites designed to harvest your personal information, payment data, or login credentials. These schemes spike every December—and they’re getting more convincing.

What’s Going On:

A tracking update appears on your phone.
Only it isn’t from UPS, USPS, or FedEx—it’s from a scammer.

Here’s how it typically unfolds:

  • A scammer blasts thousands of texts to random numbers, banking on the fact that nearly everyone has at least one package on the way.
  • The text claims a delivery issue—“delayed,” “on hold,” or “needs address verification.”
  • The message contains a link to a counterfeit tracking page that looks legitimate at first glance.
  • The site asks for personal data, account logins, or “redelivery fees” as low as $1–$3.
  • Once victims enter their information, scammers move quickly—stealing credentials, draining accounts, or selling the data on criminal marketplaces.
  • Many of these texts originate from numbers beginning with +63, the country code for the Philippines.

The entire scam thrives on one thing: your expectation that a package is actually on its way.

Why It Works:

  • Perfect timing: Holiday shopping creates a flood of real delivery alerts. Fake ones blend in effortlessly.
  • High volume: With billions of shipments, scammers don’t need to know what you ordered—just that you probably ordered something.
  • Urgency: “Delivery failed” messages spark instant panic. People act first, verify later.
  • Convincing design: Fake tracking pages mimic real carrier sites with logos, colors, and order-status bars.
  • Low-stakes requests: Small redelivery fees or simple login prompts seem harmless—until your account is compromised.
  • Overwhelmed consumers: The holidays are chaotic. Scammers rely on distraction.

Red Flags:

  • Text messages from numbers starting with +63 or unfamiliar area codes.
  • Messages that never mention what item is delayed—just a generic warning.
  • Links that use odd domains or slight misspellings of delivery companies.
  • Requests to “update your address,” “verify payment,” or “reschedule delivery.”
  • Alerts arriving at strange hours (midnight, early morning).
  • No corresponding order or tracking email in your inbox.
  • Warnings with spelling mistakes, formatting issues, or robotic phrasing.
  • Being asked to pay a “redelivery fee” for a package you never missed.

If something feels off, it probably is.

Quick Tip: Before clicking anything, check your original confirmation email from the retailer.
If the order is real, the tracking link inside that email will show the accurate status—no mystery text message required.

What You Can Do:

  • Rely on official sources. Use your retailer’s website or carrier tracking page—never unsolicited texts.
  • Keep your confirmation emails organized. They contain the legitimate tracking links scammers want you to forget.
  • Never pay redelivery fees through text. Major carriers do not operate like this.
  • Type the URL manually. If you want to check a status, go directly to USPS.com, UPS.com, or FedEx.com.
  • Block and delete suspicious numbers. Don’t engage.
  • Warn others. Many people fall for these scams simply because they’ve never heard of them.

If You’ve Been Targeted:

  • Contact your bank if you entered payment information.
  • Change passwords linked to any compromised accounts.
  • Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
  • Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) to alert your carrier.
  • Keep screenshots, URLs, and any payment receipts for investigation.

Act quickly—scammers move fast.

Final Thoughts:

Scammers don’t need to know what you bought—they just need you to be expecting something. In a season defined by nonstop deliveries, fake “package delay” alerts are an easy weapon. But they only work if you click before you think.

A moment of caution is worth more than any holiday deal. Verify before you react. Real tracking updates come from your inbox—not from an unknown number demanding your attention.

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