A text says your FedEx or UPS package is stuck until you confirm your address or pay a fee. Here's how to tell it's fake — and what to do.
It says a package from FedEx or UPS couldn't be delivered, is on hold, or needs a fee or a quick address check before it can move. There's a link. The holiday shopping season makes it easy to believe, because you probably do have something on the way.
Got a message like this? Check it in seconds.
Check it with ShieldrUPS says fraudulent messages claiming to be from it may say a package is waiting to be delivered, generally ask for personal information or a payment in advance, and may ask you to update your account. It also says the links may contain malware or lead to a fake website. (UPS)
You don't need the link to find out if a package needs anything. UPS says only a few packages require money for delivery — collect on delivery, duties or taxes — and that tracking your package is the safest way to see if any fees are due. (UPS) It also says that if UPS contacts you about a package, the representative will always be able to give you a tracking number you can verify on its website. (UPS)
So type fedex.com or ups.com into your browser yourself and enter the tracking number from your order confirmation. If the real tracking page shows nothing wrong, the text was bait.
FedEx says to contact your bank immediately if you lost money, and to consider contacting your state's Attorney General's office and the police. It also says to watch for signs of credit card fraud, such as wrong charges, statement mistakes or a temporary hold on your card. (FedEx) FedEx and UPS both say never to wire money, send money orders or cash, or pay with gift cards for a delivery. Use a payment method that helps you identify and dispute fraud. (FedEx) (UPS)
Call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card, say it was a phishing site, and ask them to block the card and reverse the charges.
Share the text, email or voicemail to Shieldr and get a plain-English verdict — safe, suspicious or scam — with the reasons it spotted. It's one more check before you tap anything, not a guarantee.
Get Shieldr on the App StoreFedEx says it doesn't send unsolicited texts or emails asking for payment or personal information for goods in transit. If you're expecting a package, check the tracking number on fedex.com rather than a link in a message.
UPS says only a few packages require money for delivery (collect on delivery, duties or taxes), and that tracking your package is the safest way to see whether any fees are due. It says it doesn't request payment or personal information in an unsolicited way.
Forward it to abuse@fedex.com for FedEx, or use the "Email UPS" link on UPS's fraud page for UPS. You can also report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and forward the text to 7726.
Related: the USPS "package on hold" text scam, the brushing scam (a package you never ordered), how to check if an Amazon text is real, how to check if a link is safe, and how to report a scam text.
Shieldr isn't affiliated with FedEx or UPS. FedEx and UPS are trademarks of their respective owners. Details are taken from their own pages as of October 21, 2026 and may change.