TL;DR: UPS says it does not request payments, personal information or passwords unprompted by email, mail, phone or fax. A text asking for a fee to move a parcel is a red flag. Report it through UPS's fraud page and the FTC.
A text that claims a UPS package is stuck and needs a small fee is one of the most common smishing scripts. UPS has a dedicated fraud prevention page, and its own statements give you clear tests to apply.
What UPS says it does not do
UPS states that it "does not request payments, personal information, financial information, account numbers, IDs, passwords, or copies of invoices in an unsolicited manner through email, mail, phone, or fax." A message that does any of these, even with a real-looking tracking number, does not match how UPS says it operates.
UPS also gives a concrete technical clue for one of its services: legitimate UPS epackage links "will always start with https://ftp2.ups.com." A link on any other domain claiming to be that service is a warning sign.
The scam types UPS lists
UPS's page names more than the delivery text. Knowing the full list helps because the same criminals mix these tactics:
- Spam and phishing emails.
- Fraudulent text messages and phone calls.
- Fake websites.
- Fraudulent checks or money orders.
- Work-from-home scams, including payroll processor, mystery shopping and returns processing jobs.
- Counterfeit labels.
- Reference number fraud.
UPS also says it accepts no responsibility for costs or charges incurred as a result of fraudulent activity, which is one more reason to check before you pay anything.
How to check a UPS text safely
1. Do not use the link in the message.
2. Open the UPS app or type the UPS website address yourself and use the tracking number from your order confirmation.
3. If nothing is pending on that number, the text is fake.
4. If a job offer or check arrived alongside it, treat it as part of the same fraud.
How to report it
UPS's fraud page points to an email contact form with a fraud parameter, and directs US users to report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Reporting matters even if you did not lose money, because it helps investigators spot patterns.
If you already clicked or paid
Block the card with your issuer and dispute the charge. If you entered a password anywhere, change it and any account that reuses it. If a fake check was involved, do not deposit or forward funds. See how other carriers word their warnings in the FedEx delivery text scam and DHL delivery text scam guides.
Job and check scams that use the UPS name
UPS's list includes work-from-home scams (payroll processor, mystery shopping, returns processing) and fraudulent checks or money orders. These belong together. A typical version offers a job handling "returns" or "payments", sends a check, and asks you to forward part of the money. When the check bounces, the money you sent is your own. UPS does not run recruitment this way, and the company's statement that it does not request payments or personal information unprompted covers these offers as well.
Reference number fraud and counterfeit labels
Two items on UPS's list are less familiar. Counterfeit labels are fake UPS shipping labels used to send goods without paying. Reference number fraud involves misusing genuine-looking shipment references to make a request seem legitimate. Neither is something a consumer would normally deal with directly, but both explain why a scam message can quote a plausible-looking number and still be fake: a real-looking number proves nothing until you check it on UPS's own site.
A five-minute response plan
- Do not click or reply, and take a screenshot for your records.
- Report through the UPS fraud page and at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- If money moved, call your bank or card issuer first, then tell the FTC.
- Change any password you entered and enable two-factor authentication.
- Block the sender, and delete the message once reported.
Scammers reuse phone numbers and emails harvested from fake parcel pages. A free digital footprint check shows what could already be traced to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UPS ask for payment by text or email?
UPS says it does not request payments, personal information, financial information, account numbers, IDs, passwords or copies of invoices in an unsolicited manner by email, mail, phone or fax.
How can I recognise a genuine UPS epackage link?
UPS says legitimate epackage links always start with https://ftp2.ups.com. A link on a different domain claiming to be that service is a warning sign.
Where do I report a fake UPS message?
Use the reporting link on UPS's fraud prevention page, and in the US also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
What other scams does UPS warn about?
UPS lists spam and phishing emails, fraudulent texts and calls, fake websites, fake checks or money orders, work-from-home scams, counterfeit labels and reference number fraud.
Will UPS refund money lost to a fake message?
UPS states it accepts no responsibility for costs or charges incurred as a result of fraudulent activity, so contact your card issuer or bank about a dispute.
Sources
Related Reading
- Australia Post Delivery Text Scam: Red Flags, Real Examples, and What to Do
- Canada Post Delivery Text Scam: Red Flags, Real Examples, and What to Do
- DHL Delivery Text Scam: Red Flags, Real Examples, and What to Do
- Evri Delivery Text Scam: Red Flags, Real Examples, and What to Do
- NZ Post Scam Texts and WhatsApp Messages: How to Tell Real From Fake