UPS is a global company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in
the world. Fraudsters wish to take advantage of that recognition and the trust
that comes with it. These individuals may inappropriately use the UPS name or
its services to perpetuate fraudulent activities. UPS strives to keep you
informed of scams that are not in the best interest of our customers. While UPS
is not liable for the actions of third parties, we are working to prevent and
detect fraud where possible.
If you have information that you believe could help UPS in preventing
or detecting fraudulent activity, we want to hear about it at fraud@ups.com.
Additional information on protecting yourself from fraud can be found online
at the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, an
alliance between the National White Collar Crime Center and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI).
 Visit the Federal Trade Commission 
Visit the
Internet Crime Complaint Center
Fraud itself is nothing new, and the same types of fraud schemes that have
existed for many years can now be found online, in e-mail, and through other
computer-based methods. Provided below are some suggested fraud prevention
measures and information about common types of fraud schemes:
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As the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, we manage the flow of goods, funds, and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. This means fraudsters have numerous ways to attempt to target people through the unauthorized use of our brand name, trademarks, and logos.
UPS takes fraud - and the protection of our customers - very seriously. Here are some basic steps to help prevent e-mail and Internet-related fraud:
- Never respond to e-mails or select Web links from any unknown source that requires you to provide, update, or verify personal, financial, or other confidential information.
- Use a secure Internet browser.
- Create strong passwords by using a combination of letters and numbers.
- Always use up-to-date virus protection software and consider using spyware detection programs.
- Equip your computer with either a software or hardware firewall.
- Do not access confidential information at Internet cafes, public libraries, etc.
- If you are using a wireless device, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on establishing the services and settings to ensure a protective level of security.
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The ability of anyone to purchase anything, from anywhere, at any time of the day or night, offers incredible opportunities to each of us and to each of our virtual neighbors around the globe. Unfortunately, some of those neighbors do not have our best interests at heart. One fraud type involves sending fraudulent checks or money orders, usually by UPS Next Day Air® service, either in response to an online advertisement or as part of a fraudulent job offer. Do not assume that the method of delivery lends any legitimacy to the contents of the package.
If you have received an unexpected check or money order, you should assume it is fraudulent. You should also be extremely cautious if you receive a check or money order for an amount greater than the expected amount. You may be contacted by e-mail with a request to cash or deposit the money and return a portion of it using Western Union or other means. The fraudster will advise that you may keep a portion of the money, which is less than generous considering the original check is probably fraudulent. Even the bank may initially believe the check or money order to be legitimate, only to discover the truth later and return it to you for repayment.
To report the receipt of a fraudulent check or money order delivered by UPS, please e-mail details, including the tracking number of the package, to fraud@ups.com. |
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In the past, successful fraudsters may have needed "an honest face." However, today's criminals only need a legitimate-looking website or e-mail to commit fraud.
We regularly monitor the Internet for the unauthorized use of the UPS brand to protect our customers. The unauthorized or unlicensed use of UPS intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets) is reviewed and addressed by UPS. Please note that some fraudulent websites may have the look and feel of a legitimate UPS website. To be assured you are accessing an authorized UPS website, use "ups.com" or "international.ups.com" rather than a link embedded in another source. |
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If you believe that a company is using the UPS brand inappropriately, have found a website that fraudulently claims to be part of UPS, or have seen our logos or trademarks used in what appears to be an unlicensed or improper manner, we want to hear about it at fraud@ups.com. |
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Fraudulent e-mails adopt many different forms and are the unauthorized actions of third parties not associated with UPS. E-mail messages referred to as "phishing" or "spoofing" are becoming more common and may appear legitimate by incorporating company brands, colors, or other legal disclaimers. Help protect yourself by becoming familiar with these methods of fraud:
- Spam: Often referred to as "junk mail," spam consists of e-mail messages that are unsolicited by the recipient and that target the recipient with direct mail messages.
- Phishing: The term "phishing," as in fishing for confidential information, refers to a scam in which the sender attempts to fraudulently obtain and use personal or financial information.
Please be advised that UPS does not request payments, personal information, financial information, account numbers, IDs, or passwords in an unsolicited manner through e-mail or mail in exchange for the transportation of goods or services. UPS accepts no responsibility for any costs or charges incurred inappropriately as a result of fraudulent activity. |
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Awareness and recognition of fraudulent e-mails and phishing attempts is
vital to protecting yourself against theft and other related crimes. Common
indicators that an e-mail might be fraudulent include the following:
- Design Flaws: An e-mail containing distorted or irregularly
sized logos
- Poor Grammar: Grammatical errors and excessive use of
exclamation points
- Misspellings: Incorrectly spelled words or links to altered
websites (For example, modifications or variations of the legitimate www.ups.com
website address, such as www.unitedparcelservices.com.)
Note: UPS sends legitimate e-mail from several URLs,
including ups.com and upsemail.com.
- Sense of Urgency: Alarming messages requesting immediate
action, such as "Your account will be suspended within 24 hours." or "Contact us
immediately to claim your parcel or prize."
- Unexpected Requests: A request attempting to obtain money,
financial information (e.g. bank account or payment card numbers), or
personal information in exchange for the delivery of a package or other
article
- Communication: An e-mail that does not provide an
alternative method for communicating the requested information (i.e. telephone,
mail, or physical locations)
Some legitimate UPS communications may come in the form of an e-mail with
an "e-package" link contained within the e-mail. These messages are designed to
increase the protection around sensitive information, and the associated link
will always start with https://epackage1.ups.com.
If you receive a fraudulent or suspicious e-mail that claims to be
from UPS, do not respond or open any attachments or links associated with the
e-mail. Please forward the e-mail to fraud@ups.com before
deleting. Because our systems work to protect the UPS network by blocking
content that may pose a security risk, we recommend you either copy and paste
the header and message into a new e-mail or scan the e-mail and send it as a PDF
attachment to ensure it is received by fraud@ups.com.
Note: When forwarding the
suspicious e-mail, do not modify the original subject line or contents enclosed,
and do not include any personal or confidential information.
Additional information on spam or phishing can be found online at the Federal
Trade Commission website. |
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In addition to fraudulent websites and e-mails, fraudsters also may use the telephone in an attempt to gather your personal information. These fraudulent phone calls are the unauthorized actions of third parties not associated with UPS. Fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from UPS may indicate a package is waiting to be delivered. The caller will generally ask you for personal information or a payment in advance of receiving a package.
If UPS contacts you regarding a package, the UPS representative will always be able to provide a tracking number, which you can verify on our website. You also should know that UPS may call from time to time regarding service offerings or for marketing purposes, but you may always verify our phone number and call back before proceeding.
If you are ever unsure of the validity of a phone call, ask for the caller's first and last name and a call-back telephone number.
If you believe you have received a fraudulent phone call, please alert us at fraud@ups.com.
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