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Is this USPS email real or a scam?
What fake USPS emails look like, how to check a real one, and where to report it.
What the fake USPS emails say
“Your package could not be delivered”
You are asked to confirm your address through a link.
A small redelivery fee
The page asks for a card number to pay a dollar or two. The card is then charged much more.
The same message by text
A text with a tracking link you never asked for.
What one looks like
From: USPS Delivery <[email protected]>
Action required: delivery attempt failed
We were unable to deliver your parcel due to an incomplete address. Please update your details and pay the $1.99 redelivery fee.
This is an illustration built from the common pattern, not a real message. Note the sender address: it contains the brand name but does not end in the company’s own domain.
How to tell a real USPS email
USPS only sends tracking updates you asked for with a tracking number, and its website is usps.com.
A matching address alone is not proof, because sender addresses can be forged. The reliable check is your own account.
The safe way to check: If you are expecting a parcel, type the tracking number from your order confirmation into usps.com yourself.
Where to report it
Forward the email to [email protected], then delete it. Forward scam texts to 7726.
You can also report it in your mail app and to the FTC.
If you already clicked
Close the page. If you entered your password, change it on the real USPS website now, and anywhere else you used the same one. If you entered card details, call your bank. The step-by-step guide covers each case.
Not sure about the one in your inbox?
Paste it into the free check with the sender address, and you get a plain answer in a few seconds.