Fake Delivery Texts in Guatemala
Smishing messages posing as couriers or customs ask Guatemalans 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 Guatemala, 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 Guatemala
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 push the victim toward a malicious app instead.
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 Policia Nacional Civil (PNC) cybercrime division
- 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
How can I quickly check if a delivery text referencing a real courier is genuine in Guatemala?
Open the courier's official app or website directly and check your tracking number there rather than clicking the link in the text. If there's no matching hold or fee on the courier's own system, the message is fake.
I entered my card details on the linked page — what should I do right now?
Call your bank immediately to block the card and monitor for unauthorised charges, and avoid using that card again until it's replaced. Report the phishing page to the PNC cybercrime division and to the genuine courier being impersonated.
Why do scammers ask for such a small delivery fee instead of a large amount?
A small fee lowers your guard and makes paying feel low-risk, but the real goal is capturing your full card details, which can then be used for much larger fraudulent charges elsewhere. The size of the requested fee has no bearing on how much you could ultimately lose.
The delivery fee was tiny — why is it dangerous to pay it in Guatemala?
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.