Recognise a fake delivery text

The pictures are drawings of the screens, not screenshots. Your screen may look a little different.

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   Step 1: Know what they look like

   They say a delivery failed or is on hold and ask you to tap a link to pay a small fee or confirm your address.

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   Step 2: Remember the USPS rule

   The U.S. Postal Inspection Service says USPS does not send texts or emails without you first asking for them with a tracking number, and those will not contain a link.

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   Step 3: Check the real way

   Do not tap the link. If you are expecting something, go to the shop's website or app, or type the delivery company's address yourself, and look up the tracking there.

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   Step 4: Report it, then delete it

   Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it. If you already tapped the link or paid, call your bank.

Good to know: Real or fake, a message you were not expecting is never a reason to hurry.