USPS email scam: is that delivery notice real?

Q: How do I report a fake USPS email?

Forward the email to spam@uspis.gov, then delete it — that's the Postal Inspection Service's own instruction. You can also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Don't click the link, don't open any attachment, and don't reply.

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. The illustrated email uses a look-alike USPS address and a redelivery-fee request. USPS redelivery is free; verify the parcel independently.

Exhibit · Email

Action required: your package is on hold

USPS Delivery Service

support@usps-trackingsupport[.]info

11:02 AM

We attempted to deliver your package but were unable to complete it due to an incomplete address. A $1.99 redelivery fee is required within 24 hours or your parcel will be returned: usps-redelivery-verify[.]info/pay

Confirm address & pay fee

Illustrative email · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: A text version about a “held package,” a fake “customs fee” for an international parcel, or a tracking link that asks you to log in or re-enter your card.

What to do right now

Do not use the suspicious link or pay its fee. USPS redelivery is free. Other carriers and other legitimate shipment charges have different rules.
Check independently. Open usps.com or the USPS app and use your order’s tracking number. Contact USPS through official support about any charge or notice you cannot verify.
Report it. Forward to spam@uspis.gov, then file at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Delete it and mark it as phishing.
If you already paid or entered your card, call your bank now to freeze the card and dispute the charge, then watch your statement for more.

Reduce the risk of another scam

Do not use the message’s link to check the claim. Open the real service yourself. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.

● Public service · free steps first

Take the free protection steps first

A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.

Freeze your credit — free at all three bureausRestricts access to your credit report for new credit applications. It does not protect existing accounts from misuse.
Report it and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.govThe FTC walks you through exactly what to do next, for free.

Decide what protection you need

Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.

Compare free and paid protection →

No purchase needed. How we use evidence.

Frequently asked

Does USPS email you about a delivery problem or unpaid postage?

USPS sends legitimate emails for some services, so an email or link alone is not a complete authenticity test. The illustrated look-alike sender and redelivery fee are warning signs; USPS redelivery is free. Open usps.com yourself to check the shipment and contact official support rather than using the email’s link or attachment.

How do I report a fake USPS email?

Forward the email to spam@uspis.gov, then delete it — that's the Postal Inspection Service's own instruction. You can also report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Don't click the link, don't open any attachment, and don't reply.

I clicked the link or opened the attachment — what now?

Because these emails can carry malware that steals saved passwords and card details, treat it as a possible breach. Change the passwords for your email and any financial accounts from a device you trust, turn on two-factor authentication, and run a security scan. If you entered your card, call your bank to watch or freeze it. Then forward the original email to spam@uspis.gov and delete it.

Sources

01Fake USPS Emails— U.S. Postal Inspection Service
02How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams— Federal Trade Commission
03Official security and fraud guidance— uspis.gov
04How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams— consumer.ftc.gov

Pass it on

Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.