USPS impersonation texts scam Americans with fake delivery alerts containing malicious links.

A surge in USPS impersonation text scams, known as smishing, is targeting Americans with fake delivery alerts that urge quick action to resolve non-existent issues like undeliverable packages or missing info. These messages, which mimic official USPS communications, often contain malicious links designed to steal personal data, logins, or install malware. Legitimate USPS never charges for tracking, requests payment for delivery problems, or asks for personal details via text. Red flags include urgent language, spelling errors, suspicious URLs like USPSS.com, and unexpected messages. To stay safe, avoid clicking unsolicited tracking links, verify senders using reverse lookup tools, and report suspicious texts to spam@uspis.gov or by forwarding to 7726. If a link is clicked, act fast by disconnecting from Wi-Fi, running a trusted anti-malware scan, changing passwords, and monitoring accounts. The FTC identifies these as the top text fraud, so vigilance and verification are essential.