Fake Delivery Texts in Bolivia
Smishing messages posing as couriers or customs ask Bolivians to pay a small fee or log in on a fake page, harvesting card details and personal data.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake delivery texts are 'smishing' messages that impersonate parcel couriers or customs, claiming a package is held pending a small fee or address confirmation. With online shopping growing in Bolivia, many people are expecting a delivery, which makes these messages dangerously plausible.
The goal is to capture card details, banking logins, or personal data on a fraudulent page that mimics a real courier or payment site. The 'fee' is small to lower suspicion, but the data stolen can lead to far larger losses.
How this scam works on Bolivia
A victim receives an SMS or WhatsApp message stating a parcel cannot be delivered until a customs charge, redelivery fee, or address confirmation is completed via a link. The link leads to a convincing clone of a courier or payment website that requests card numbers, expiry, CVV, and sometimes a bank login or one-time code.
Once entered, the details are used to make fraudulent charges or to authorise transfers, often combined with a follow-up call posing as the bank to capture verification codes. Some versions install nothing but simply phish the data; others push the victim toward a malicious app.
Because the requested fee is tiny, victims often pay without scrutiny, handing over card data that is then exploited far beyond the original amount.
Common red flags
- An unexpected delivery message asking you to pay a small fee via a link
- A link to a courier or 'customs' page that requests full card details or a bank login
- Urgency claiming the parcel will be returned or destroyed if you do not act fast
- A sender number or link domain that does not match the official courier
- Requests for a one-time passcode or verification code by message or follow-up call
- Spelling or formatting errors on the linked page
- A 'fee' that is suspiciously small for the supposed shipment
How to protect yourself
- Never click links in unexpected delivery texts — go to the courier's official site or app directly
- Verify any parcel using a tracking number you obtained from the genuine retailer
- Never enter card details or bank logins on a page reached from a text link
- Never share one-time passcodes with anyone, including supposed couriers or bank staff
- Check the sender and link domain carefully against the official courier
- Delete and report the message rather than engaging
How to report it
- Report the message to your mobile operator and the Bolivian police cybercrime division (FELCC)
- Notify your bank immediately if you entered any card or login details
- Report the impersonation to the genuine courier so it can warn other customers
Frequently asked questions
I clicked the link and entered my card details before realising it was fake — what should I do immediately?
Contact your bank right away to block or freeze the card and watch for unauthorised charges, and change your online banking password if you also entered login details. Report the message to your mobile operator and to FELCC, and keep the text as evidence.
How can I tell a real courier text from a fake one in Bolivia?
Do not click the link in the text — instead, go directly to the courier's official app or website and enter the tracking number you received from the retailer yourself. Genuine delivery notifications rarely demand payment through a text link.
I wasn't expecting any package — why did I still get a delivery text?
These messages are sent in bulk to random numbers regardless of whether the recipient is expecting anything, hoping some people assume it applies to them. If you have no pending order, delete the message without clicking anything.
The delivery fee was tiny — why is it dangerous to pay it in Bolivia?
The small fee is bait. The real aim is to capture the card and banking details you enter on the fake page, which can then be used for much larger fraudulent charges and transfers.