Fake Royal Mail Delivery Text Scam
Scammers send SMS messages impersonating Royal Mail, claiming a parcel awaits delivery and a small fee must be paid to release it. Royal Mail does not demand fees via unsolicited SMS links — its primary missed-delivery process involves a physical card and a free reboarding process.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Royal Mail is the UK's most recognised postal brand, handling letters and parcels for tens of millions of households. This familiarity makes Royal Mail-branded smishing one of the most widespread scam types reported to UK consumers each year.
The messages are characteristically brief and plausible: a parcel is waiting, a small payment is needed, a deadline is ticking. Action Fraud has consistently listed Royal Mail impersonation as one of the top brands misused by smishing criminals in the UK.
Royal Mail's genuine delivery process provides a clean standard for comparison. When a tracked parcel cannot be delivered, Royal Mail leaves a physical P739 card inviting the recipient to arrange a free redelivery at royalmail.com or collect from the local delivery office. No SMS payment link is ever part of this process.
How this scam works on the Royal Mail brand
Texts typically read: 'Royal Mail: Your parcel is awaiting delivery. A £1.99 fee is required: [link].' The link opens a convincing replica of the Royal Mail website — including the red branding and crown logo — and requests full card details.
Some variants add a layer of pressure: 'Your parcel will be returned to sender on [tomorrow's date] unless the fee is paid.' This manufactured urgency pushes victims into acting before verifying with the real Royal Mail.
A subtler variant claims to be a 'Royal Mail Delivery Update' and asks the recipient to confirm their delivery address via a link. The linked page collects name, address, and card details under the guise of an address update.
Common red flags
- Any Royal Mail text demanding a fee via a link — Royal Mail does not do this
- Link goes to a domain other than royalmail.com
- No corresponding physical P739 card received for the same parcel
- Urgency framing with a same-day or next-day deadline
- Text arrives from a random mobile number rather than a Royal Mail short code
- Page requests full card details to 'confirm address' or 'pay storage'
- No parcel reference you can verify at royalmail.com
How to protect yourself
- Check your post box for a genuine Royal Mail P739 missed-delivery card
- Book free redelivery at royalmail.com/redelivery using your card reference
- Never click a delivery fee link in an SMS claiming to be Royal Mail
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726
- If card details were entered, contact your bank immediately
How to report it
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040
- Report to the NCSC at report.ncsc.gov.uk
- Alert Royal Mail at royalmail.com/help/scam-mail
- Contact your bank if financial details were compromised
Frequently asked questions
Does Royal Mail send delivery fee requests by SMS?
No. Royal Mail does not send unsolicited SMS messages demanding delivery fees. Its standard missed-delivery process involves a physical P739 card and a free redelivery service at royalmail.com.
How do I report a fake Royal Mail text?
Forward it to 7726 to report it to your mobile carrier as spam, then report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk and to the NCSC at report.ncsc.gov.uk.
Can I verify a parcel at Royal Mail before paying anything?
Yes. Enter any tracking reference at royalmail.com/track-your-item. If the reference returns no result or is unrelated to your expected parcel, the message is fraudulent.