Back in November 2024, right in the thick of the BFCM surge, I sat in our fulfillment center watching our dashboard turn bright red. We were dealing with a 5.3x return spike compared to our October baseline, and our CS team was absolutely drowning. Amidst the chaos of tracking "where is my refund" tickets, we started seeing a new, more sinister pattern. Customers weren't just asking about their shoes; they were forwarding us screenshots of text messages claiming their package was held up at the border. "Is this you?" they asked. It wasn't us. It was the "you have a USPS parcel being cleared" scam hitting our most loyal customers at their most vulnerable moment—when they were already anxious about a delivery. Managing a warehouse bottleneck is one thing; managing a brand reputation crisis caused by third-party phishing is a whole different beast.
The Anatomy of the "U.S. Customs You Have a USPS Parcel Being Cleared" Scam
If you're an operator, you know the lifecycle of a package better than your own birthday. You know the handoffs between carriers, the scan events, and the "black hole" of customs. Scammers know this too. They've perfected the u.s. customs you have a usps parcel being cleared text because it mimics the actual friction points of international e-commerce.
Here’s where ops breaks: standard international shipping is opaque. When a customer sees a message about us post you have a usps parcel being cleared, they aren't thinking about the technicality that the USPS doesn't actually handle the clearing—Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does. They just want their package. The scam usually includes a shortened link (a massive red flag) and a request for a small "processing fee," often $1.99 or $2.99. It’s a low enough number that most people don't think twice, but the real goal isn't the two dollars; it's the credit card data and the PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
During our 2024 peak, we had a customer who had spent over $800 with us. She received a u.s. post you have a usps parcel being cleared message and, thinking it was her high-value order, entered her details. Her bank account was drained for $4,000 before she could call us. And even though it wasn't our fault, she associated that trauma with our brand. That is the hidden cost of logistics-based phishing.
Does USPS Send Text Messages? Understanding Real Carrier Comms
Operators always ask me: how can we tell our customers the difference between a legitimate update and a united postal service scam? It’s a valid question because the lines are blurring.
Does usps send text messages? Yes, but only if you specifically requested them for a specific tracking number. They don't just "have" your number and decide to text you about a clearance issue. A real usps text will never contain a link to pay a fee. If there is a fee, you usually receive a physical form (PS Form 3849) or you have to pay it at the post office.
Now the logistics math that matters: every time a customer gets a fake usps customs clearance text, your CS inquiry cost jumps. We calculated that for every 1,000 "parcel cleared" scams sent out, we received about 45 "is this real?" tickets. At $12 per ticket (inclusive of labor and software like Zendesk or Gorgias), that’s over $500 in wasted OpEx per wave of scams.
Here’s what most brands miss about the "US-Post Scam"
The us-post scam isn't just a security problem; it's a "speed of trust" problem. When we use traditional carriers and the return or delivery takes 14 days, we create a 14-day window of opportunity for scammers to strike. If a package is "in transit" for two weeks, the customer is primed to believe a text about a delay.
I remember a specific failure case with a mid-sized apparel brand I consulted for. They were using a standard return-to-warehouse model. A customer sent back a $150 jacket from London to a warehouse in Ohio. The shipping took 19 days. On day 12, the customer got a you have a USPS parcel being cleared text. Because the jacket was actually at a border crossing, she clicked it. She lost $200 to the scammer and blamed the brand for the "unsafe" return process. We tried to explain that the united postal service scam was external, but the damage was done.
But here is where it gets interesting: if that return had been handled locally through a service like Closo Returns, the "in-transit" window would have been zero. The customer would have dropped it off at a local hub, received an instant refund, and the "logistics anxiety" that scammers feed on would have never existed.
Comparison: Traditional Warehouse Returns vs. Local Routing (Closo)
How Closo Solves Returns and Eliminates the Phishing Window
We've talked about the usps customs clearance text, but let's talk about the solution. How Closo solves returns isn't just about making things faster; it's about de-risking the entire lifecycle of a product.
When a brand integrates Closo Returns, they are moving away from the "Ship-Inspect-Refund" model that has dominated e-commerce since 2010. Instead, they use a "Drop-Verify-Resell" model. By using a network of return hubs, brands can have their items inspected locally by vetted partners.
Here’s why this matters for the u.s. customs you have a usps parcel being cleared issue:
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No International Shipping for Returns: Most of these scams target cross-border shipments. By keeping returns within a local ecosystem, you eliminate the customs event entirely for that unit.
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Instant Verification: Scammers thrive on the "waiting period." If the refund is instant, the customer no longer has a reason to track a "clearing" parcel.
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Reduced Data Footprint: Because you aren't generating dozens of international labels and digital handoffs for every single small-value return, there are fewer points where data can be scraped or spoofed.
And honestly, the cost savings are the only way to survive in 2026. We’ve seen brands spend $27 to process a return for a $19 item (don't ask why—legacy systems are a nightmare). We route eligible returns locally instead of sending everything back to the warehouse — cutting return cost from ~$35 to ~$5 and speeding refunds.
Common question I see: "Is the USPS Text Scam Actually Increasing?"
I see this in every ops Slack group I’m in. The answer is a resounding yes. According to recent data, SMS-based phishing (smishing) has increased by over 300% since 2023. The usps text scam is particularly effective because the USPS is one of the most trusted brands in America.
So, what do we tell the C-suite when they ask why we’re seeing so many complaints? We explain that the united postal service scam is a byproduct of a fragmented logistics network. When you use 5+ different enterprise tools like ShipBobfor fulfillment, Narvar for tracking, and Loop or Happy Returns for the front-end, you create a lot of digital noise. Scammers hide in that noise.
I’ve personally seen cases where a warehouse backlog (we once had 12,000 units sitting in a trailer for a week due to a forklift failure) led to a massive spike in customers falling for the us post you have a usps parcel being cleared text. Why? Because they were frustrated that their tracking hadn't moved in 6 days. Frustration equals vulnerability.
Managing the "United Postal Service Scam" in Your CS Flow
If you are running a high-volume DTC shop, you need a macro for this. Do not let your agents type out custom responses for every usps customs clearance text inquiry.
But here’s the tricky part: you have to be empathetic. A customer who just gave their credit card to a scammer isn't just a "ticket"; they are a person who is likely feeling embarrassed and angry. Your response should:
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Confirm it is a scam.
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Provide the official USPS link for reporting smishing.
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Offer a small "token of goodwill" (like a 10% code) even though you didn't do it.
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Remind them that your brand uses secure portals like the Closo Brand Hub for all legitimate communications.
In June 2025, one of our partners saw a 40% reduction in "scam anxiety" just by adding a small banner to their tracking page that said: "We will never text you to ask for customs fees. If you get a message saying you have a USPS parcel being cleared, it is a scam." Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective.
Honest Failure: When Over-Processing Actually Hurts
I’ll admit, early in my career, I thought the solution to logistics issues was more data. More emails, more texts, more updates. I wanted the customer to know every time a package moved two inches.
But I was wrong. Over-communicating actually creates more opportunities for the us-post scam. If a customer is getting 12 legitimate texts from you, they are much more likely to click the 13th one that happens to be a scam. We actually saw our click-through rate on fake usps text messages go up when we increased our own SMS frequency. Now, I advocate for "high-value communication only."
If you use Closo Returns, the only communication the customer needs is: "Your return is ready for drop-off" and "Your refund has been processed." Everything in between is just noise that scammers can exploit. (And yes, I’ve had to learn this the hard way after a particularly messy BFCM where we sent 400,000 "Your item is being sorted" texts that everyone hated).
Operators always ask me: "Can't we just block these numbers?"
I wish it were that easy. These scammers use "SIM farms" and VOIP numbers that rotate faster than a warehouse conveyor belt. You can't block your way out of the u.s. customs you have a usps parcel being cleared problem.
The only real defense is structural change. By moving towards e-commerce return solutions that prioritize local handling, you are fundamentally changing the "physics" of the return. If the item never goes to a "parcel clearing" center, the scam doesn't make sense to the customer.
I don't know why more brands don't talk about this, but the "reverse logistics" industry—led by players like Optoro and Narvar—is finally realizing that shipping air in cardboard boxes across the ocean is a security risk as much as a financial one.
The Role of Closo in the Modern Brand Hub
The Closo Brand Hub is designed to be the "source of truth" for the customer. In a world of united postal service scams, having a single, branded, secure destination for returns is vital.
When a customer sees the exact phrase you have a usps parcel being cleared, they should immediately think: "Wait, Closo said my return was handled locally at the boutique down the street. This text must be fake." That "mental check" is what saves your customers' bank accounts and your brand's reputation.
But let's be honest: not every package can be handled locally. If you're selling custom-fit industrial machinery, Closo might not be the fit. But for the 90% of DTC brands selling apparel, electronics, and beauty, the "warehouse-first" model is a legacy burden. We’ve seen brands reduce their "Where is my refund?" tickets by 65% in the first quarter of switching to local routing. That’s hundreds of hours given back to your CS team to focus on actual growth, not firefighting scams.
Summary: A New Era of Logistics
The u.s. customs you have a usps parcel being cleared scam is a symptom of a larger disease: the inefficiency and opacity of the global supply chain. Scammers aren't just clever; they are opportunists who fill the gaps we leave behind.
By educating our customers on the reality of does usps send text messages and providing them with faster, safer, and more local alternatives through Closo Returns, we are doing more than just saving on shipping costs. We are rebuilding the "trust bridge" that e-commerce has been losing for years.
While we can't stop every usps text scam from being sent, we can make them irrelevant. An informed customer using a modern return hub is the best defense we have. It’s time we stop asking our customers to be "parcel clearing" experts and start giving them a return experience that actually works in 2026.
We route eligible returns locally instead of sending everything back to the warehouse — cutting return cost from ~$35 to ~$5 and speeding refunds. If you're ready to protect your customers and your bottom line, it's time to look at how your logistics are leaving you vulnerable.
