Package delivery callback scam
A call or voicemail claims a package could not be delivered and asks you to call back or 'press 1', leading to phishing for personal data or premium-rate charges. The same lure is common by text (smishing).
The lure exploits volume: with dozens of annual deliveries per household, a 'failed delivery' message eventually coincides with a real expectation. Callback lines and links harvest card numbers under the guise of 'redelivery fees' of a dollar or two — the real target being the card itself. Carriers' actual processes differ: USPS leaves physical notices, and its official text alerts come only if you subscribed to tracking. The universal rule is to track packages only through the number you were given at purchase.
How to recognize it
- Delivery notice for a package you never ordered
- Callback number that does not match the carrier's official lines
- Request for payment or personal data to 'release' the package
What to do
- Track packages only via official carrier sites and apps
- Do not call back numbers left in unsolicited delivery voicemails
- Report smishing texts to 7726 (SPAM) and the FTC
Where to report
Sources
FAQ
What should I do first if I suspect a package delivery callback scam call?
Hang up without pressing anything or confirming any details. Track packages only via official carrier sites and apps. Then report it through the channels listed below.
I already gave the caller money or information — now what?
Act on the money first: contact your bank or card issuer immediately, and if you paid by gift card, call the card company to try freezing the balance. Then file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if identity data leaked, follow the recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Does the number that called me identify the scammer?
Usually not — the display is routinely spoofed. Report the number anyway: combined with time and content, it still helps investigators map calling campaigns.