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Expecting packages shipped to your home this holiday season? You’re not the only one… scammers are, too.

Did you get a text message with a shipment tracking code and a link to update your delivery preferences? It's a scam. Learn more.

We’ve learned of a phony “delivery failure notification” email making the rounds. It looks like it’s from the U.S. Postal Service — but it’s not. The email says you missed a delivery. But, it says, if you print the attached form and take it to your local post office, you can pick up your package and avoid penalties. The message might also include a link for more details.

Here’s the truth: the email is bogus and there is no package. And if you download the attachment or click on a link, you’re likely to end up with a virus or malware on your device.

Con artists often use the names and logos of familiar organizations to get under your guard. So how do you tell what’s legit and what’s a scam? Here are some ways to spot a bogus email:

  • It tells you to click on a link or download an attachment
  • It urges you to take immediate action
  • It asks you to “re-confirm” personal or financial information

Another sure sign an email is a scam? If you hover over the link in the email, it won’t show the official website of the supposed sender — in this case, the U.S. Postal Service website.

For more tips, check out our articles on phishing and malware. And if you have questions about a delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, visit usps.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

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FTC Staff
August 03, 2016

In reply to by Mitch25

It could be a scam. You could call the company that delivers packages. Ask the company if there really is an airport tax.

You can ask someone who knows about tax rules in the Philipines. Maybe there is a fee to get your package, but maybe he is trying to take your money. If you think this is a scam, you can stop talking to him.

Smilpyme
December 23, 2021

In reply to by Mitch25

That was also my problems, the courier ask so much amount of many for the transportation that in the first place that is thier job.
WrightHandBlogger
September 19, 2016
Repeatedly receiving this attempted "FedEx" delivery notice: "LINK, Delivery Notification, ID 00868258" Fortunately, I've opened none of them ... since I know I have no due FedEx packages...
Just me
September 23, 2016
Received an email from "FedEx" that said they were unable to deliver a package -YES I WAS STUPID AND CLICKED (not to mention sick with a head cold and over tired - I have never done that before). It was malware...any idea of this particular scam and whether only Microsoft is targeted with it, or does it affect Apple computers as well?
lala
April 14, 2021

In reply to by Just me

I have a chat from someone from UK. He said he was sending a gift from me..He showed the receipt..Then He showned me "Fedex" email..Then I received email from "Fedex" too..that they say i pay 100$ to deliver my parcel..Then i pay 100$...Then they said I need to pay another 250$ because they say my parcel detected a big money inside the box. they say money laundering that i need pay 250$ to protected my parcel.. What did you think this is scam?
CA
June 05, 2021

In reply to by lala

We have the same case. I just wanted to know, did you receive your package? A man send me a gift too. Then, i send 10,000 pesos for the import tax fee. And they tell me there's a big money inside the box. And after that they tell me to send another 10,000 pesos for money laundering fee. They said I will receive my package today. But I haven't received anything.
DJ
January 09, 2022

In reply to by CA

Hello, did you got your package or you got scammed. Same exprience, I already 11kphp and till now the package haven't arrive. Same situation and detail. How to get my money back. Please reply asap if you notice
Mae
December 16, 2021

In reply to by marie

Oh no! Me too I have a package hold by a custom I don't know if it's real
Ritch02
September 24, 2016
Hello, is it possible to ship a package delivery from Africa to the Philippines within 48 hours and is it required to pay for a local chaages before they could deliver the package. I've confirmed with the cargo company but did not reply, the person whom i need to deposit the payment is a private individual and not bearing the company's name. Is it a scam?
FTC Staff
September 27, 2016

In reply to by Ritch02

If you are expecting a package from a shipping company or delivery service, contact the business. Ask if you must pay a fee to pick up the package, or to have it delivered to you.

Adeniyi Adeola Mary
October 26, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

It is possible to deliver package within 78hour
kurdapia
October 17, 2016

I receive a mail from Same day Express Courier. They asking me to pay the clearance tax for the package that sent to me. Cost 17 thousand PH money. Is it a scam? what should I do?

FTC Staff
October 17, 2016

In reply to by kurdapia

If you did not ask for the package, and you do not want the package, you can say no when they ask for money.

caballeromaryc…
February 06, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Hello...may i know..i got an email from customs that they held my parcel due to tax and insurance..i ordered phone in malaysia..please help me on this.
Benson1 1
April 15, 2020

In reply to by caballeromaryc…

What do you do when you order something online from Walmart and they, I just happened to find it, FedEx said it was delivered on the 9th at 2:30 afternoon well I was home all afternoon and never received it and I've got the FedEx number saying it was delivered, help please
Mala Sin
January 19, 2020

In reply to by kurdapia

OMG Girl, we have the same story. i was asked to pay 17,000 Chinese dollars for clearance fee. That was a big joke and a big scam. They are group of people i think coz one of them was using USA phone number and sent me email asking money for the fee through western union or bank transfer. They thought i never knew their style. They even gave me track number and i located it. I really saw it . They use spacodeliveryexpress.
PACKAGE AND PA…
October 24, 2016
PLEASE , I ORDERED ONLINE PILLS FROM UKRAINE AND THEY SHIPPED USING A COURRIER WHICH NOW IS ASKING ME TO MAKE A DEPOSIT TO GET LICENCSE EXPORT AND ALSO DEA PERMIT PAYMENT AND IF I DONT PAY THEY WILL OPEN AND INSPECT THE BOX. I DONT KNOW IF THEY SHIPPED DRUGS OR THE PILLS I ORDERED .... PLEASE HELP!! I AM SCARED
FTC Staff
October 24, 2016

In reply to by PACKAGE AND PA…

To find out whether you need a DEA permit to order or receive certain chemicals or drugs, go to the DEA website. If you have a question about whether you can receive a certain product through the mail in the US, go to the website of the US Customs and Border Patrol.

jasmn
December 07, 2019

In reply to by PACKAGE AND PA…

I have the same problem now ordered some pills and they scare me like this.. i payed everything now im sacred if they sent the package and if the pills are inside or not.. i alredy payed for everything insurance, fda certiicate than for clairance fee all together 4600eur and now i dont know what will happen.. what did you do?
JA
July 15, 2020

In reply to by jasmn

I wouldn't worry. There isn't any package to be delivered. They will take your money for these fake fees and never send you anything. this happened to me. Thankfully I only paid a small amount before they asked for more and then I knew it was a scam.
makahiya
November 17, 2016
Good day i have a package from us i pay the clearance charge but when they scan my package they found out that there is money inside now my package is on hold because of the penalty now they asking me to pay for it but i cant afford...i dont know what will i do
FTC Staff
November 28, 2016

In reply to by makahiya

This could be a scam. If a stranger says he will send you a valuable package, and you must pay fees to get the package, it usually is a scam.

A criminal will make promises like this because he wants your money. Really, there is no valuable package. Often, he will ask for more and more fees.

mitz
September 10, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

Hello I do receive a msg that I have package in a courier company name Apex International Delivery Services in Cebu and she's saying may package is. On hold because I will have to pay 15,000 pesos.. I'm pretty sure this is scam...
Abigail
August 20, 2020

In reply to by Jen

Is he chatting you on gmail? We have the same person. haha so what's the story that he told you?
Hanna
September 15, 2020

In reply to by Abigail

i experience this also mr dominic celsius they send me gold earings,loptop ipad iphoneX,11,000. they give me the link and he said the package are arrived in my country 3-5 days, how can i report this scammer??
Mica
July 08, 2021

In reply to by Abigail

Really same here we are Chatting using gmail. Saying that his a US navy then he became a tactical he said that he send Me gifts and now the package are in manila custom its on hold due to the unpaid amount... He even said that he will visit me.
Mc
August 25, 2020

In reply to by Renms

Yes I experience that also that name Mr Dominic celcius try to send a very valuable gift but I know he is scammer due to this FTC I saw his name,beware of this person name Dominic celcius..
Renms
June 15, 2020

In reply to by makahiya

I am going through the same thing right now. What did you do?
Nika
August 29, 2020

In reply to by makahiya

Hi good day, this is currently happening to me and I don't know what to do....I was asked to pay $5000ttd to clear customs charges and now this morning I was told that a large sum amount of currency was found in my package, they are asking me to pay 5% of what is in the package and I don't know what to do !!
rodar918
October 30, 2020

In reply to by makahiya

I pay 42thiusand Indian rupee for my package but they sacn my package they saw some money and ask me to pay 1500dollars but I don't have money what will I do now. Can I still take my money back.
Camille
February 16, 2021

In reply to by makahiya

Good day, I jave a package from US also and they charge me 19589 for the clearance fee, and when they scan the package they saw money inside and they wil need me to pay the violation fee for $3000 as it was not indicated on the receipt. Is this true that there is a violation like this?
Kathy
December 07, 2016
Is there a way to stop the fedex scam from being sent out from my email. I keep getting a non delivery failure notice in my email like I am the one sending this email to others. I tried contacting my email provider but they didn't help much. Have I been hacked? I get 5 to 10 a day with a bounced email to different people with the agent fedex attachment. I just don't want people to think I am sending out this malware.
THC
December 08, 2016

Just got an e-mail myself, I have not opened the “Shipment Label”, because it looked phishy from the start. Instead, I google search FedEx policies and found out they never send unsolicited e-mails to customers. Since I didn’t ask for an e-mail, this cannot be valid. Beware, this came from an e-mail address troy.glenn @ flmlawfirm. com. I tried to google the address and nothing was found…

ausfi
June 17, 2020

In reply to by THC

I'm in Norway and I get similar information by pop-up. The notice has an email address and tracking-number but I have not won any iPhone so it must be a scam. The email is not found online. The notices keep coming each day, they start by that I have a delivery, then it could not be delivered through lack of an address, then that it has been sent back. Sometimes they ask for a small fee. Then it all starts from the beginning again. It is not malware as Norton lets it through, though it stops some other pop-ups. How can I stop this?
Adam
January 23, 2017

I have a package I am waiting for so this seemed legit at first. Then i looked at the sender's email address [ronald.shaw @ carroceriasseilan. com] does not reflect a USPS address.

attachment name (Item-Delivery-Details-4707468.zip) I am sure this is a scam and I want to warn others not to downwload and run the attachment -

here is the Email i received, 1/15/2017 looks like this...

Subject: USPS parcel #4707468 delivery problem Dear Adam, We can not deliver your parcel arrived at January 13. Please check the attachment for details! With gratitude, Ronald Shaw, USPS Parcels Operation Manager.

Lis
January 23, 2017
Thank you SO much for this information! I just got an email from "USPS Home Delivery" claiming there was a "shipment problem" with a specific parcel number. I put the parcel number into the USPS tracking site, and it says the parcel number doesn't exist. Thank you so much for your help in warning us about these scams!
KRIZZA
February 15, 2017
same here,my package shipped through apex international courier when you track the reference number it was legit, i was expecting that was legit, but apex sent me an email like this ATTENTION!!! Head, Customer Services, APEX INTERNATIONAL COURIER NETWORK 2/16/2017 Dear miss ______, of 2257 _______, magallanes, makati, with reference to your package delivery today, we wish to bring to your notice that your package has reached Philippines transit and right now, the parcel is on hold for Airport tax. You need to pay some of certain commissions which is for Airport Taxes, This must be paid immediately through us which is for the Clearance of Your package immediately , This in Accordance to The mode of operations in The Sector For the Courier And parcel Delivering, We have already Taken in the Order number For this Package A Commission of the Total Sum of ( Php 17,999.00 )has been Charged on This Package For The Airport Tax Clearance, after then Your Package Shall Be Release to us later today for delivering,to Your Destination home address Within 24/Hours, Our representatives are available to take your emails Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.Please note: This e-mail message was sent from a notification we accept incoming e-mail. Thanks You are required to follow all instructions giving to you to facilitate the release of your package. To do this, you are required to pay the required.charges listed below for the immediate release of your package.Upon confirmation of your payment, your package will be delivering to your designated address above without delay. Outstanding Charges: Administrative ..........................p 6,200.00 Clearance.................................p, 6,500.00 Processing fees...........................p 5,299.00 TOTAL = 17,999.00 pesos only. A total of 17,999.00 peso (seventeen Thousand Nine hundred Ninety Nine peso only) has been charge...In acknowledgment to this email, send the money to us in other to clear your parcel and deliver them to your door step within this day... Please settle the Payment: With Our Agent Name Through any of this medium of exchange/transfer.. BANK PAYMENT To our Branch Office in Philippine to resolve the matter you can contact our transit Philippine coordinator for more inquiries through our office email.. Yours faithfully, South East Asia Regional Coordinator phone number: +639495983121 and they said my package is in mactan cebu how come my address was makati, then the package sent in cebu, they give me 2 option its either pickup or payment through bank,since im in manila, i said to the agent i can pay through bank,and until now im waiting for the text how to send for my airport tax payment. I know this is a scam. that's why when i talked to the agent i was questioning her about the charges and box. and the name of agent i have talked was LANI RAMIREZ, of course that wasnt her real name..thanks
Nickatzx
February 21, 2017
Krizza i think i also can relate to your message coz someone i knew online also send me a package with the courier APEX INTERNATIONAL COURIER NETWORK..don't send a money coz obviously it is a scam..after you send the amount of Php 17,000, seenzoned na yan...
Midnight
March 24, 2017

I got one from fedex. delivery. intl @ Saying since I am the reserver I need my name, address, phone number,ID card and next of kin. Why do you need ID card . Do you even ask for that

FinShopper
April 07, 2017
I got one from "USPS". I'd recently bought items from Ebay etc. so the email seemed like a real deal. It said something like "USPS cannot deliver your parcel" and there was a link. A closer look at sender's ridiculous email address made it clear it was all a scam.
Sherry
April 24, 2017
Sherry - I got an e-mail from Express Delivery Logistics & Courier Company - they said I had to pay $1553 to get the boxes that someone else was going to send me - they wanted me to send the money to a bank in Texas
Chintan82
August 04, 2017
I received something similar twice in the past month but via snail mail. The envelope has no return address and the card inside doesn't mention who it is from. I live in North Carolina and the phone number it is asking to call is a local area code (919). The message reads: We are unable to contact you by phone. Please contact us within seven (7) days. We have a delivery for you. Please Call 10:00am - 9:00pm Monday - Friday and 9:00am - 12:00pm on Saturdays. (919)XXX-XXXX Ask for Delivery Dept. Your delivery # is ___ Does the FTC have recommendations on how to stop these or maybe ideas on why I am being targeted?
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