Scam texts have overtaken spam calls as the most common and dangerous form of phone scams, and UPS scam texts are just one iteration. By learning how to identify text scams and downloading the right spam blocker app, you can keep your private information secure and avoid the severe consequences — like loss of money, privacy, or identity — that can come with a successful UPS scam text.
Keep reading for a comprehensive look at what UPS scam texts are and how you can protect yourself from them.
UPS scam texts come from scammers who claim to represent UPS, typically notifying their targets of some kind of fake delivery problem. They might claim there’s an issue with your account, a problem with the delivery of the package, or unpaid shipping fees. Some UPS scam texts solicit sensitive data like your home address, bank account information, or credit card numbers, while others trigger malware downloads that let scammers control your devices.
Fortunately, knowing how to quickly recognize UPS scam texts helps you protect yourself and your digital privacy. Familiarize yourself with these five common UPS scam texts so you can stop them in their tracks.
Behind just about every UPS scam text is a fake delivery of some sort. The scammer might claim that you missed a delivery, your account settings need to be changed in order to receive a package, or your product is being held for you at a nearby UPS locker. UPS will never ask for personal information over text, and if the scammer gives you a fake tracking number, check it using the real UPS tracker.
One UPS scam text offers an “exclusive reward” worth up to $100 in exchange for taking a short survey. This is not a real UPS offer and redirects to a spoofed website with a Russian domain.
You may receive a text message that claims there was a problem with your delivery — the location couldn’t be verified or you weren’t home to sign for the package, for example — and gives you instructions for how to retrieve your goods. However, the link included will download malware onto your device or send you to a spoofed website where the scammer can steal your information.
UPS will never charge you additional shipping fees after your payment has already been processed. However, a popular UPS scam text claims that a package couldn’t be delivered because of outstanding fees. Once they receive your financial information to settle the balance, they can continue to steal from your accounts.
While some links in UPS text scams send potential victims to spoofed websites that resemble the real UPS brand, others immediately trigger a malware download. Simply tapping the link can download harmful malware that scammers use to spy on you, access your files, and even control your phone’s camera or microphone.
Many different types of scam and spam texts use similar tactics, which means there are a few notable red flags that pop up across the board. UPS scams are no different, and recognizing the telltale signs of fraud can help you avoid falling into the trap.
Note: If you receive a suspicious text message from an unknown number, you can use Robokiller’s global spam call directory to see if the number has been associated with known spammers and scammers.
If you’re not expecting a delivery, the text you got from “UPS” is probably fake. If you are expecting a delivery through UPS, you can track your packages using the UPS app or website. Delivery scammers take advantage of occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the winter holiday season, when people are likely to be sending and receiving gifts.
Legitimate texts from UPS are generally automated, and their templates are checked for spelling and grammar. On the other hand, many scammers operate their schemes from overseas, and they may include obvious language errors in their text messages.
UPS will never ask you for personal data like your mailing address, login credentials, or financial information via text message. If you get a message claiming to be from UPS that requests this type of sensitive information, it’s a scam.
Scammers want their targets to act before they can think, which is why many create a sense of urgency and fabricate consequences for not immediately cooperating. A real UPS representative will never push you to act quickly or threaten you with fines, lost property, or any other punishment for a delayed response.
Real UPS text messages sometimes include links, but they will always start with “https://www.ups.com/” in the URL. Scammers include links that may look genuine at a glance, and they may direct you to a website that looks convincingly like a real UPS page. Don’t follow the link if it’s not to the official UPS website, especially if you weren’t expecting a text.
There are certain occasions in which UPS sends text messages, and the service is clear about when this might happen. Here’s a quick overview of legitimate UPS text messages:
If you’ve received a UPS scam text but haven’t taken action, don’t panic — you’re not in danger as long as you don’t respond to the message or follow any links. Here’s what you should do when you find a UPS scam text in your inbox.
Whether you use an iPhone or Android device, you can delete unwanted text messages and report them as junk right from your messaging app. From there, you can also access the contact and block them from calling or messaging you again.
In addition to reporting them directly through your messaging app, you can report UPS text scams to the authorities in a few other ways:
There are several ways to notify the real UPS about a UPS scam text:
It’s important to update all the devices you use to send and receive text messages, from your phone and tablet to your laptop or desktop computer. Update your antivirus software whenever possible, make sure your devices are running the latest operating systems, and use the best third-party spam blocker available.
If you’ve received a UPS scam text and tapped a link or given away personal information, it’s critical that you act quickly to mitigate the damage. Below are a few ways you can protect your finances, security, and identity after receiving a UPS scam text.
UPS scam texts can be dangerous, but the right defenses can prevent them from harming you or your family. Here are some steps you can take to prevent and avoid UPS scam texts:
In the fight against phone scams, it’s imperative to have a third-party spam blocker you can trust. Robokiller has been on the frontlines of the spam war since the beginning and has emerged as the best robocall blocker on the market.
Robokiller boasts an impressive resume and crucial spam-blocking features, including:
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The best way to prevent UPS scam texts from reaching your phone is by downloading a third-party spam-blocking app like Robokiller. You can take other steps to reduce your vulnerability to scams, but a dedicated spam blocker will make sure unwanted messages never even get to you.
You should always be suspicious of texts that claim to come from UPS when you’re not expecting a delivery. UPS scam texts may also include the same warning signs as other scam texts, like a sense of urgency, threatening language, and malicious links.
Never respond to or follow the links in a text message from an unknown number, no matter what business the sender claims to represent. If you receive a UPS scam text, you should delete the message, block the sender, and report the text.
Reporting a UPS scam text alerts the real UPS to the issue and helps prevent these types of scams from being perpetrated in the future. You can report a UPS scam text to the UPS directly by emailing fraud@ups.com, forwarding the message to 7726 (SPAM), or notifying the BBB, FTC, or FCC.
The links in UPS scam texts are designed to elicit personal information or download a virus onto the target’s device. Some links redirect the potential victim to a spoofed version of a trusted website, while others automatically trigger a malware download that lets scammers take over the person’s phone. Never tap or click the link in a text message from a phone number you don’t know and trust.
