Fake Delivery Text Scams in Switzerland
Fraudulent SMS messages impersonating Swiss Post and private couriers, directing recipients to phishing sites that steal card data or install malware.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Switzerland's busy parcel market — driven by high online shopping rates — is exploited by scammers sending fake Swiss Post (Die Post / La Poste) or DHL/DPD delivery notifications. The messages claim a parcel is held and prompt recipients to pay a small CHF fee or update delivery details via a phishing link.
The NCSC regularly issues waves-of-fraud alerts when these campaigns spike. The links capture credit-card numbers, PostFinance credentials, or install Android malware. Losses per victim can be modest individually but the campaigns reach hundreds of thousands of Swiss numbers.
How this scam works on Switzerland
An SMS arrives claiming 'Ihr Paket konnte nicht zugestellt werden' (your parcel could not be delivered), with a link to a convincing Swiss Post lookalike domain. The page requests a CHF 1–3 'redelivery fee', requiring full card details.
Some variants target iPhone users with calendar spam or push notifications mimicking carrier-branded alerts. Android users may be prompted to install a fake 'Swiss Post' app that intercepts SMS messages including bank OTPs.
Campaigns intensify after major shopping events such as Black Friday or the Swiss postal strike periods when parcel anxiety is high.
Common red flags
- Unexpected SMS about a parcel you cannot identify using a short link or non-post.ch domain
- Request for card payment to release a parcel — Swiss Post never does this by SMS
- Domain in the link is not post.ch, dhl.ch, or a verified carrier domain
- Request to download an app to track your parcel
- Message arrives with a foreign country code but purports to be Swiss Post
- Urgency framing: 'parcel returned within 24 hours unless you act now'
How to protect yourself
- Track parcels only by typing post.ch or your carrier's official URL directly into your browser
- Never pay a delivery fee via a link in an SMS — log into your official carrier account instead
- Do not install apps from links in unsolicited text messages
- Report the SMS to NCSC and to 8888 (Swiss Post fraud short code) by forwarding the message
- If you entered card details, cancel the card immediately and monitor for unauthorised charges
- Enable transaction alerts on all your payment cards
How to report it
- Forward the suspicious SMS to 8888 (Swiss Post anti-fraud) or report at ncsc.admin.ch
- Report to your card issuer if card data was entered
- File a complaint with cantonal police if malware was installed on your device
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to click the link if I am expecting a parcel?
No. Always go directly to post.ch or your carrier's website and enter the tracking number provided in your original order confirmation, ignoring any SMS links.