Fake Delivery Texts in Uruguay
Smishing messages posing as couriers or customs ask Uruguayans 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 common in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay
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 Uruguayan police cybercrime unit
- 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 verify a delivery text is genuine without clicking any link?
Open the courier's official app or website directly and check the status using the tracking number provided by the retailer you ordered from. If there's no matching pending fee or hold shown there, the text is fake.
I entered my banking login on the fake page, not just card details — is that worse?
Yes. A banking login is more serious than card details alone, since it can potentially give access to your full account rather than just one card. Contact your bank immediately, change your password, and monitor your account closely for unauthorised activity.
Why do these messages often arrive right after I've made an online purchase?
Scammers send bulk messages regardless of your actual shopping activity, but the timing can coincide with genuine deliveries by chance, or your number may have been targeted after a data leak. Always verify independently through the courier's own system rather than assuming the timing makes the message legitimate.
The delivery fee was tiny — why is it dangerous to pay it in Uruguay?
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.