Fake Delivery Text Scams in Israel
Smishing campaigns in Israel impersonating Israel Post and courier services to steal banking credentials.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake delivery text scams (smishing) are a growing category in Israel, where high smartphone use and online shopping make delivery notifications a normal part of daily life. Fraudsters send SMS messages impersonating Israel Post (Doar Yisrael), DHL, or FedEx, claiming a parcel requires customs payment or address confirmation via a link.
The links lead to phishing pages that mimic Israeli bank login portals or payment interfaces, harvesting credentials that are then used for fraudulent bank transfers.
How this scam works on Israel
A victim receives an SMS with a link stating a parcel from abroad is on hold at Israel Post customs pending a payment of ILS [amount]. The link leads to a page replicating the Israel Post customs payment interface, collecting credit card details and OTPs.
In a bank credential variant, the phishing page claims the victim's account must be verified to process the delivery payment, harvesting online banking username and password.
Campaigns are timed to peak import periods — Black Friday, Christmas, Chinese New Year — when international parcel volumes are highest and recipients are most likely to have genuine shipments in transit.
Common red flags
- SMS about a delivery problem with a shortened URL or a domain not matching israelpost.co.il
- Customs fee payment request via an SMS link
- Page requests bank login credentials to process a delivery payment
- Sender number is a short code or international number not recognised as an official courier
- Message asks for credit card details to release a parcel
How to protect yourself
- Never follow links in delivery SMS — check parcel status directly on israelpost.co.il or the courier official app
- Israel Post customs fees are paid through official customs channels, not via SMS links
- Enable transaction alerts on your bank account to catch unauthorised charges promptly
- Report smishing messages to 105 (Israel National Cyber Directorate hotline)
- Block the sending number and forward the message to your carrier's spam reporting service
How to report it
- Report to Israel National Cyber Directorate hotline 105
- File with Israel Police cybercrime if bank credentials were captured
- Contact your bank fraud line immediately if you entered credentials on the phishing page
Frequently asked questions
Does Israel Post send customs payment requests via SMS?
Israel Post does not send payment links via SMS. Customs fees for international parcels are communicated through an official notice and paid through the Israel Post website or customs authority. Any SMS with a payment link claiming to be from Israel Post is a phishing attempt.