Real Courier Missed-Delivery Card vs Fake Delivery Text
How to distinguish a genuine missed-delivery card or notification from a fraudulent message designed to harvest your card details or install malware.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Parcel delivery scams have become one of the most common forms of smishing. Fraudsters send texts or emails claiming a delivery has been missed and that a small redelivery fee is required, directing victims to convincing fake payment pages. Real couriers handle missed deliveries quite differently.
Side-by-side comparison
| Genuine missed-delivery notice | Fake delivery text or email | |
|---|---|---|
| How notice is delivered | Physical card left at the door, or a notification through the courier's own official app linked to a real tracking number you recognise | Unsolicited text or email containing a link, often with no tracking number or a vague reference code |
| Redelivery fee | Major couriers (Royal Mail, DPD, UPS, FedEx) do not charge redelivery fees for standard domestic parcels | Claims a small fee (often £1.99–£2.99) is required to release or redeliver your parcel — designed to capture card details |
| Tracking number | Physical card or official app notification shows a tracking number you can verify on the courier's own website directly | No tracking number, or a generic reference code that returns no result on the courier's real website |
| Link destination | Any link in a genuine notification goes to the courier's primary domain (e.g. royalmail.com, dpd.co.uk) | Link goes to a domain mimicking the courier (e.g. royal-mail-delivery.com) registered recently and unrelated to the real company |
| Personal details requested | Redelivery rescheduling only requires confirming your address and a preferred date — no payment card required | Payment page asks for full card number, expiry, CVV, and sometimes billing address or phone number |
Common red flags
- Text or email requests any payment to redeliver a standard domestic parcel
- Link domain is not the courier's well-known primary website domain
- You are not expecting a parcel or the sender is unrecognisable
- Message contains spelling errors or generic language ('a parcel is waiting for you') with no specific sender name
- Page reached via the link asks for full card details
Verification steps
- Go directly to the courier's official website by typing the URL — search for the tracking number provided on the card or in the official app
- Call the courier's official customer service line (from their website) if you are unsure about any notification
- Check whether you are actually expecting a parcel from the sender before acting on any delivery notice
What not to do
- Do not click links in unsolicited texts or emails about unrecognised parcels
- Do not enter payment card details on any page reached through a delivery notification link
- Do not call phone numbers listed in a suspicious delivery text — look up the courier's official number independently
A safe response
If you suspect a delivery text is fraudulent, do not click the link or provide any details. You can report smishing messages to your mobile provider by forwarding to 7726 (UK) or reporting to the FTC (US). If you have already entered card details, contact your bank immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Is it ever legitimate for a courier to charge a redelivery fee?
Standard domestic redeliveries from major couriers are free. Customs fees or import duties on international parcels can be legitimately charged, but these are handled through official channels — not via a payment link in an unexpected text.
I entered my card details before realising it was a scam — what now?
Contact your bank or card provider immediately to report potential fraud and request a card cancellation. Monitor your account for any unauthorised transactions and consider placing a fraud alert with credit agencies.