Fake 'redelivery fee' texts are back, now spoofing the real carrier number

A new version of the familiar 'your package could not be delivered' text scam is circulating, and this round is notably harder to catch: on many phones it appears in the same message thread as genuine carrier notifications, because the sender ID has been spoofed to match.

What makes this version different

Earlier versions of this scam came from an obviously random number. This one uses sender ID spoofing to appear as a continuation of a real delivery thread, so the message shows up directly beneath a legitimate 'your package has shipped' text from earlier in the week.

The message asks for a small redelivery fee, usually between $1.50 and $3.00, and links to a payment page that closely mimics the real carrier's site, collecting full card details on submission.

How to tell it's fake

• Real carriers do not charge a redelivery fee by text for standard shipments
• The link domain will not exactly match the carrier's real domain — check for extra words or a different top-level domain
• Legitimate tracking updates never ask for payment card details directly through a text link

What to do

Do not tap the link. Delete the message, and if you're unsure whether a delivery is genuinely pending, check tracking directly through the carrier's official app or website, typed in manually rather than tapped from the text. If you've already entered card details, contact your card issuer to flag the card and watch for unrecognized charges over the following weeks.