Does US Customs text you?

Updated November 1, 2026

No. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) doesn't text you to ask for money or personal information, and it says it doesn't ask for money over the phone or use gift cards or Bitcoin. If an international package really owes duties, the carrier delivering it (USPS, UPS, FedEx or DHL) bills you. A surprise "US Customs" text with a link to pay a fee is a scam. Check by entering your tracking number on the carrier's own website.

Does CBP text you?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the federal agency people mean by "US Customs." It doesn't text you to ask for money or personal details. In a 2024 report on fake "U.S. Customs" texts, KTLO quoted CBP saying it will never ask for personal information or money by text.

CBP says the same about phone calls. It "does not solicit money over the phone," and it doesn't use Bitcoin, other digital currency or gift cards. Its warnings describe fake calls claiming "a box of drugs and money being shipped has your name on it and has been intercepted," or that there's a warrant for your arrest.

Who really bills you for customs fees

Customs fees on packages are real, which is why these texts work.

Low-value packages owe duties now. The duty-free exemption for packages under $800 ended for all imports on August 29, 2025, Marketplace reported. In June 2026, CBP made that suspension indefinite.
The carrier collects them, not CBP. Marketplace explains that the carriers work out the fees, collect them and send them to CBP. So if you owe anything, the bill comes from USPS, UPS, FedEx or DHL, or the seller charges it at checkout.
Some carrier texts about duties are real. FedEx says it may text you a secure link to pay duties and taxes on an international package. UPS says only a few packages need money at delivery, such as duties or taxes. Check those amounts on the carrier's website, not through the link.

Signs a "customs fee" text is fake

It says it's from "US Customs" or "Border Protection" and asks you to pay. CBP doesn't collect package fees from you by text.
You didn't order anything from abroad, and nobody told you they sent you a package.
It asks for a small fee before it will release or deliver the package. The FCC warns that scam texts may claim you have to pay a customs fee or tax before delivery.
It mentions tariffs. In January 2026, 92.7 WOBM passed on a BBB warning about texts and emails that use phrases like "U.S. Customs," "U.S. tariffs" or "tariff payment" to claim you owe a fee. Real federal websites end in .gov.
The seller wants a customs payment after you've checked out. The BBB says legitimate sellers won't ask for additional shipping or customs payments once you've completed a purchase.
It says your parcel is "being cleared" or detained because of an invalid zip code, or tells you to reply Y to turn on the link. See that scam's exact wording.
It rushes you, with a deadline or a threat to return or destroy the package.

How to check a package safely

Don't tap the link or reply. Find the tracking number in your order confirmation, or ask the sender for it. Then type the carrier's address into Safari yourself (usps.com, ups.com, fedex.com or dhl.com) and enter the number. If duties are really due, you'll see them there. For FedEx, you can also check duties with the FedEx Import Tool on fedex.com.

For USPS, the Postal Inspection Service says USPS doesn't text you about a package unless you asked for tracking updates, and those texts won't contain a link. How to tell if a USPS text is real · Does UPS text you? · Does FedEx text you?

If you already tapped the link or paid

You paid with a card: call your bank or card company right away, using the number on your card, and ask them to stop or reverse the charge.
You entered personal details or a sign-in code: follow what to do if you clicked a scam link.
You only opened the page: close it and don't enter anything.

Report it

Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) so your carrier can block similar messages, then delete it. How to report spam texts on iPhone.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. CBP asks people to report scam calls there too.
If the text used the USPS name, you can also email it to [email protected], as the Postal Inspection Service asks.

Questions

Will US Customs text you about a package?

CBP doesn't text you to collect money or ask for your details. If a package from abroad owes duties, the company delivering it collects them and passes them on to CBP. So a text that says it's from "US Customs" and asks you to pay through a link is fake. Look up the tracking number on the carrier's own website instead.

What is the US Customs text message about an invalid zip code?

Fake package texts often say a parcel is "being cleared" or "temporarily detained" because of an invalid zip code, then ask you to reply Y to turn on the link. That's a known scam. Don't reply and don't tap the link. The page on the USPS "invalid zip code" text shows its exact wording.

Do I really have to pay customs fees on packages now?

Sometimes, yes. Since August 29, 2025, packages under $800 no longer come in duty-free, and CBP made that suspension indefinite in June 2026. That's why customs fee texts sound believable. A real charge shows up when you track the package on the carrier's website, or the seller adds it at checkout.

Does US Customs call you about a package?

CBP warns about calls from people pretending to be its officers, often claiming a box of drugs or money with your name on it was intercepted, or that there's a warrant for your arrest. CBP says it doesn't ask for money over the phone. Hang up and report the call to the FTC.

Sources

Facts checked November 1, 2026.