Email safety guide · Reviewed September 28, 2026
USPS Delivery Message or Scam? Check the Request First
A delivery notice is easy to believe when you are waiting for a package. The useful question is whether the tracking request matches something you initiated—not whether the message has a postal logo.
What to do first
For an unexpected delivery problem, open the carrier website yourself and check a tracking number from your order confirmation. Do not use the notice’s link to enter card details or pay a small “release” fee.
Check the wording in a quick preview →An example, with the warning signs explained
Fictional teaching example. This is not a customer email or a live scanner result.
Subject: Your parcel is on hold We could not confirm your delivery address. Pay $0.30 now to release the package. Update here: https://parcel-help.example/resolve
- A tiny payment lowers your guard
The request may be designed to collect card details, rather than the small amount it names.
- The destination is not the carrier
The example uses the reserved .example domain and is not a live website. In a real notice, examine the actual destination rather than the link label.
- There is no independently verified package
Being a frequent online shopper is not enough to connect a message with a specific order.
Compare the evidence, not just the appearance
These are clues to investigate, not a checklist that proves a message is safe.
| Check | More reassuring context | Reason to stop and verify |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking context | The details match a shipment you can find through your merchant account. | The message references an unspecified parcel and demands immediate action. |
| Where you check | You visit the official carrier site using a tracking number you already have. | An unsolicited link asks for card details or an account password. |
| Message appearance | You verify the claim even when the formatting looks professional. | You rely on the logo, display name, or small requested fee. |
The Postal Inspection Service warns about unsolicited package-tracking messages with unfamiliar links. For USPS text tracking specifically, it says customers initiate the tracking service and those notifications do not include links. Do not generalize that rule to every carrier or every type of email. Read the official guidance.
A safer way to check
- Find the shipment in your merchant account or original order confirmation.
- Type the carrier address yourself and check the tracking number there.
- If the message and official tracking disagree, use the carrier’s official help and reporting channels. If you entered card details, contact your card provider through a known number.
Check your own message
Get a second look before you act
Start with a quick preview, or forward the email for a more complete assessment of the details available in the message.
scanme@scan.check-trusted.com
A forwarded message may preserve more information, but does not always contain the original authentication headers. Compare standard and paid scan options.
Common questions
What if I really am expecting a package?
That does not authenticate the message. Compare it with a shipment you find independently.
Can I paste a text message into the preview?
You can paste its text for a limited assessment. The preview does not verify the package or authenticate a sender.
Should I forward a delivery email?
You can forward a suspicious email to CheckTrusted for an assessment of the information included. The carrier remains the source for shipment status.
Source: US Postal Inspection Service: package-tracking scams. Examples and explanations by CheckTrusted. Brand names are used for identification; CheckTrusted is not affiliated with these companies.