You’re sitting on your couch, maybe scrolling through TikTok or half-watching a Netflix documentary, when your phone buzzes. It’s a text. The preview shows something about a package—specifically, a USPS delivery that has been "put on hold" or "suspended" because of a missing house number or a zip code error. You check the sender. It starts with +63.
Stop. Do not click that link.
The country code 63 USPS text message is a textbook example of a "smishing" (SMS phishing) campaign that has been relentlessly hammering phone users across the United States. It’s annoying. It’s persistent. And for the scammers behind it, it’s incredibly lucrative because it plays on a universal human experience: waiting for a package. We’ve all ordered something online and forgotten exactly which carrier is bringing it. That tiny seed of doubt is exactly what these criminals harvest.
Why the +63 Prefix is a Dead Giveaway
Let's talk geography for a second. The +63 country code belongs to the Philippines.
Now, ask yourself: Why would the United States Postal Service—a federal agency of the U.S. government—be texting you from a Filipino mobile number to discuss a domestic package delivery in Ohio or California? They wouldn't. It’s that simple.
The USPS doesn't use international personal numbers to send service alerts. When the USPS sends an actual, legitimate text (which you have to specifically sign up for, by the way), it usually comes from a five-digit "short code" like 28777. If you see a long-form international number, you’re looking at a scammer using a VOIP service or a hijacked SIM card overseas to bypass local filters.
How the Scam Actually Works
It usually starts with a sense of urgency. The message might say, "The USPS package has arrived at the warehouse but cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. Please confirm your address in the link."
They want you to panic.
Once you click that link, you aren't going to the official USPS.com. Instead, you're sent to a "look-alike" domain. These sites are impressively sophisticated. They use the same blue and white color palette, the same eagle logo, and even the same font as the real Postal Service website. You might see a form asking for your "correct" address.
Then comes the hook.
The site will claim there is a "redelivery fee" or a "storage fee," usually something small like $0.35 or $1.95. It seems negligible. You figure, hey, it’s two bucks to get my package back, no big deal. But the money isn't the goal. They want your credit card number, the CVV, and your billing address. Once you hit "submit," you haven't paid a fee; you’ve just handed over your financial identity to a fraud ring operating thousands of miles away.
The USPS Doesn't Just Text People Randomly
Honestly, the USPS is a massive bureaucracy. They aren't proactive in the way this scam suggests.
The Postal Service does not send text messages or emails to customers about unclaimed packages unless the customer has first initiated a request for a specific tracking number. You have to opt-in. If you didn't go to the USPS website, type in a tracking number, and click "Text Tracking," then any text you get is a lie. Period.
Furthermore, the USPS doesn't use "USPS.com" look-alikes like "usps-post-office.me" or "https://www.google.com/search?q=uspstracking-update.com." They own the .com and the .gov. Anything else is a red flag big enough to cover a mail truck.
Specific Signs of the Country Code 63 USPS Text Message Scam
- The +63 Prefix: As mentioned, this is the Philippines. Other common ones include +44 (UK) or +62 (Indonesia).
- Poor Grammar: Sometimes the messages are polished, but often they have weird spacing or odd phrasing like "the delivery was failed" or "please operate the link."
- The Link Shortener: Legitimate agencies rarely use Bitly or TinyURL for official service alerts.
- The "Urgent" Deadline: Scammers love saying you have "12 hours" before the package is returned to the sender. This is a psychological trick called "forced errors."
Real Stories: What Happens If You Click?
I’ve talked to people who fell for this. One person in a tech forum mentioned that after entering their card info for a $0.97 "redelivery fee," they saw a $4,000 charge from a luxury retailer in Europe just three hours later. Another victim reported that the link itself triggered a malware download that started scraping their contacts.
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It’s not just about the money. It’s about the data. Once these scammers know your phone number is "active" (because you clicked or replied), they sell that information to other scam groups. Suddenly, you aren't just getting fake USPS texts; you're getting "unclaimed lottery" texts and "Amazon account locked" texts. It’s a snowball effect.
Technical Nuance: Why Filters Miss Them
You might wonder why your carrier doesn't just block these.
The reality is that scammers use "Sms-Gateway" services that rotate thousands of numbers. They send these messages in bursts. By the time a carrier's spam filter flags the +63 number, the scammer has already moved on to a +61 or a +33. It’s a game of digital whack-a-mole.
Also, some of these messages use "homoglyphs"—characters that look like English letters but are actually from different alphabets—to trick the automated filters into thinking the message is unique and safe.
What to Do if You Received This Text
First, take a breath. You haven't lost anything just by receiving the message.
Do not reply "STOP." I know that sounds counterintuitive. On a legitimate marketing text, "STOP" unsubscribes you. On a scam text, "STOP" tells the scammer, "Hey, this is a real person who reads their messages!" It makes your phone number more valuable to them.
Block the sender immediately. Most iPhones and Androids have a built-in "Block and Report Spam" feature. Use it.
Report it to the USPIS. The United States Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement arm of the post office. They actually take this stuff seriously. You can send an email to spam@uspis.gov. In the email, you should include a screenshot of the text showing the phone number and the date/time it was received. This helps them track the domains the scammers are using and shut them down.
Report to 7726. This is a universal short code for reporting spam to cellular carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Copy the body of the text and forward it to 7726. It’s free and helps the carriers update their filters.
If You Already Entered Your Information
Look, it happens. These scams are designed to be convincing. If you entered your credit card information into a site linked from a country code 63 USPS text message, you need to move fast.
- Call your bank. Don't just "monitor" your statement. Tell them you were the victim of an online phishing scam. They will likely cancel your current card and issue a new one with a different number.
- Change your passwords. If the scam site asked you to "log in" using your USPS or email credentials, change those passwords immediately. If you use that same password elsewhere—like for your bank or Amazon—change those too.
- Check for Malware. If you downloaded any "tracking app" at the prompt of the text, delete it and run a reputable antivirus scan on your phone.
- Place a Fraud Alert. If you gave away social security info (which some of the more aggressive versions of this scam ask for), contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to place a free fraud alert on your file.
Actionable Steps to Protect Yourself
- Bookmark the Real Site: Always go to tools.usps.com directly if you need to track something. Never use a link from a text.
- Use a Password Manager: These tools often won't "autofill" your credentials on a fake site because the URL doesn't match the real one. It's a great secondary defense.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Even if they get your password, 2FA can keep them out of your accounts.
- Trust Your Gut: If a text feels "off," it is. The USPS has been around for over 200 years; they aren't going to start using random Filipino cell phones to manage their logistics in 2026.
Stay vigilant. The +63 prefix is your first and best warning that something isn't right. Just delete the message and move on with your day. Your package—if there even is one—will get to you through the normal channels, not through a shady link in a random text.
Next Steps for Safety:
Check your phone's settings to ensure "Filter Unknown Senders" is turned on. This will move messages from numbers not in your contacts into a separate folder, reducing the chance that you'll accidentally click a malicious link in a moment of distraction. If you are genuinely concerned about a package, call the official USPS customer service line or visit your local post office in person with your tracking number. Any legitimate issue with your mail can be resolved through those official channels without providing credit card details over an unsecured SMS link.