Fake DHL Delivery Text Scam
Scammers send SMS messages pretending to be DHL, claiming a parcel is held and demanding a customs or redelivery fee via a phishing link. The real DHL proactively sends tracking updates only after you register for them and never demands payment through an unsolicited text link.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
DHL is one of the world's most recognised courier brands, which makes it a prime target for impersonation. Criminals craft convincing SMS messages bearing DHL's logo colours and language, telling recipients that a parcel cannot be delivered until a small fee is paid.
The fee is typically framed as a customs charge, redelivery surcharge, or address-correction cost — small enough that many people pay without thinking. Once a victim clicks the link and enters card details, the scammer harvests those details for fraud.
Understanding how DHL actually communicates is the fastest way to spot these fakes. DHL's legitimate tracking updates arrive via email or the DHL app only when you have actively registered a shipment or signed up for notifications — the company does not send unsolicited payment requests by SMS.
How this scam works on the DHL brand
The message usually reads something like: 'DHL: Your parcel [#XXXXXXX] is awaiting delivery. A customs fee of £2.99 is outstanding. Pay now: [short-URL].' The link leads to a convincing replica of the DHL website that asks for card details or even full address and identity information.
Real DHL tracking pages are always at dhl.com or a clearly labelled regional subdomain (e.g. dhl.co.uk). DHL never asks you to pay customs fees through a text-message link — legitimate customs or VAT charges are communicated through official customs authority paperwork or via the DHL import duties portal you access directly by logging in at dhl.com.
Some variants go further: after the initial card capture, the fake site redirects to a second page requesting online-banking credentials 'to verify the payment', turning a delivery scam into full account takeover.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited SMS from an unrecognised number referencing a parcel you did not order or track
- Link uses a shortened URL or a domain that is not exactly dhl.com or a known DHL country domain
- Requests payment via a link rather than directing you to sign into your DHL account
- Amount is suspiciously small (under £5 / $5) to lower your guard
- Urgent language threatening return-to-sender if not paid within 24 hours
- The site behind the link asks for full card details including CVV and billing address
- No shipment reference that matches anything in your DHL account or an expected delivery
How to protect yourself
- Do not tap the link; instead open dhl.com directly in your browser and use the official tracking tool
- Log in to your DHL account or the DHL app to see any genuine outstanding actions on your shipments
- Check whether you are actually expecting a DHL delivery before taking any action
- If a customs charge is real, DHL will communicate it through official import-duty documentation, not an SMS link
- Report the message to your mobile carrier by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM)
- Delete the message without clicking any link
- If you did click and enter card details, contact your bank immediately to block the card
How to report it
- Forward the smishing text to 7726 (works on all major UK and US carriers)
- Report phishing attempts to DHL at [email protected]
- In the UK, report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
- In the US, report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If you entered financial details, contact your bank's fraud team immediately
Frequently asked questions
Does DHL ever send payment requests by SMS?
DHL does not send unsolicited SMS messages asking you to pay fees via a link. If a customs or import charge is due, DHL communicates this through official channels and directs you to sign in at dhl.com — never to a link embedded in a text.
I clicked the link but did not pay. Am I safe?
Clicking alone may expose your device to tracking pixels or, in rare cases, drive-by exploits. Run a security scan, do not revisit the page, and monitor your accounts. If the page asked you to enter any information, treat your details as compromised.
How can I tell if a DHL tracking number is real?
Go directly to dhl.com and enter the tracking number in the official tool. If the number returns no result or an error, it is fabricated.
Where do I report a fake DHL text in Australia?
Forward the message to 7226 (Scam Watch SMS line) and report online at scamwatch.gov.au run by the ACCC.