Real Delivery Message vs Fake Delivery Text
Spot the difference between a genuine courier update and a smishing scam.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Genuine courier messages don't usually demand fees or card details via links. Here's how to tell them apart.
Side-by-side comparison
| Real delivery message | Fake delivery text | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | Rarely demands a small fee via a text link | Demands a small 'redelivery/customs' fee |
| Links | Directs you to the official app/site | Links to a non-official, odd domain |
| Details | Doesn't ask for full card details | Asks for card and personal details |
| Verification | Matches an order you actually placed | Often for a parcel you're not expecting |
Common red flags
- A fee demanded to release a parcel
- Link to a non-official domain
- Requests for full card and personal details
- Urgency and a short deadline
Verification steps
- Check tracking in the courier's official app/site
- Use the tracking number from your own order confirmation
- Don't click links in unexpected delivery texts
What not to do
- Don't click the link
- Don't enter card details
- Don't pay the 'fee'
A safe response
Ignore the text and verify any delivery directly in the courier's official app or website. Real couriers rarely demand small fees via text links.
Frequently asked questions
Do couriers ever charge fees by text?
Rarely, and you can always verify in the official app instead of clicking a text link. Treat fee-demanding delivery texts with links as smishing until proven otherwise.