Scam texts continue to hold their position as the most rampant form of phone fraud, and delivery scams were the most common unwanted text in the first half of 2023 by more than a threefold margin. Scammers will only attempt to build on their success in this arena — $13 billion stolen via scam texts from January through June 2023 — which is why it’s crucial to know how to protect yourself.
You earned your money, so don’t let criminals take it. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about FedEx text scams and how to avoid delivery fraud.
There are a few different types of FedEx delivery scams, and while they take different approaches, they’re all equally dangerous. Regardless of which version of the scam you’re targeted with, the scammer will impersonate FedEx in some form with the goal of acquiring your information — usernames, passwords, credit card numbers — and stealing your money or even your identity. These suspicious text messages tend to ramp up during the holiday season, but they can be a serious threat year-round.
FedEx text scams typically involve a fake problem with an equally fake package delivery. The scammer, posing as FedEx, will text you saying a package couldn’t be delivered. They may say there was no one home to sign for the delivery, the carrier couldn’t find the address, or there are unpaid shipping fees due.
To receive the “package,” you’re instructed to click a link that downloads malware to your mobile device or sends you to a spoofed website to enter your login information — or both. The scammer then uses the malicious download to access your device or steals your information to sell on the dark web. From there, hackers can go after your financial accounts.
Another common FedEx text scam claims you have to update your delivery preferences to get your delivery, which you can do by clicking the link. Again, the link is either a malware download or a spoofed website aimed to steal sensitive data that can be used to access other accounts. These unsolicited texts often include fake tracking numbers that you can check against the FedEx tracking system.
Some particularly brazen FedEx text scams try to defraud your account by pretending it’s already been defrauded. The text will claim there’s been unusual or fraudulent activity in your account, prompting you to click a link or respond with your login credentials so you can change your password. This text in itself is, of course, the attempt at fraudulent activity.
FedEx text scams can take many forms, but if you know what to look out for, you can protect yourself, your finances, and your family.
When you recognize a scam in action, the scammer suddenly loses all power. Take the power back and watch out for these common warning signs that you’re being scammed:
If you’ve received a suspicious text that claims to be from FedEx but haven’t taken action yet, you’re still in the clear. Here are a few steps you can take when you receive the message:
If you’ve already clicked a malicious link, given away your private information, or otherwise fallen victim to a FedEx delivery scam text, you might take more serious measures:
In some cases, the real FedEx texts their customers from a shortcode. However, you would have to have signed up for notifications for them to do so. If you didn’t sign up or were not expecting a delivery, then the text you received is a scam.
The first step in preventing any kind of scam text or phishing attack is to never click any link. Whether you’re waiting on a package or not, never click the link in an unexpected text message. And if you’re not awaiting a delivery, there’s no reason to entertain the message at all.
In addition to offering some helpful tips themselves, FedEx issued a statement about the known SMS scam:
"Have you received a suspicious text or e-mail that appears to be from us? Suspicious messages should be deleted without being opened and reported to abuse@fedex.com.”
Both iOS and Android provide customers a way for you to filter messages from unknown or potentially untrustworthy senders into a separate mailbox.
Here’s how to enable spam-text blocking on iPhone:
Android users can enable spam-text blocking like so:
Whether you use an iPhone or an Android device, learning how to block spam texts by filtering out unknown senders is easy. However, there are more efficient and comprehensive forms of spam and scam coverage.
Both of the above are fairly blunt instruments that run the risk of blocking messages that you actually want to receive, like confirmations from your doctor or alerts from your child’s school. Fortunately, Robokiller applies our unique algorithm and compares each message against our massive database of spam and scam patterns, so you get the messages you want and never see the ones you don’t.
Robokiller has been spearheading the fight against phone scams and spam since the beginning, and our 99% effective call and text blocking technology has saved Americans from more than $600 million in losses. Our customizable features and intuitive design make the app efficient and easy to use, offering you a comprehensive defense against phone scammers and their dangerous ploys.
While you can always trust FedEx to get your package to The World on Time™, when it comes to spam and scam protection, Robokiller is the solution.
FedEx text scams are carried out by scammers who use fake package delivery problems to trick people into downloading malware onto their devices or giving away sensitive data. In reality, FedEx won’t text you unless you opted in to SMS notifications and have a delivery on the way. They’ll never ask for any kind of personal or account information via text.
If you receive a suspicious text message of any kind, always wait before you take any action, and never click the link. If the message isn’t sent from a shortcode, you didn’t sign up for text notifications, or you’re not expecting a delivery, delete the text and block the sender. Contact the company directly through an official FedEx website, support number, or email address to see if you have a package and report the scam attempt.
The only way to protect your personal information is to avoid giving it away. Never offer personal details like your email address, password, or credit card information over text message to an unverified sender.
You can report FedEx text scams to FedEx by forwarding the message to abuse@fedex.com. You can also forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
