Fake Delivery Texts on SMS / Text
Scam texts impersonate couriers, claiming a parcel is held or needs a fee or redelivery, to lure recipients to phishing pages that steal card and login details.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake delivery texts are among the most common smishing scams because almost everyone is expecting, or could plausibly expect, a parcel. A message claiming a delivery failed or a small fee is due taps directly into that expectation, with a link that promises to resolve it.
SMS is the natural home for this scam: courier notifications genuinely arrive by text, so a fake one blends in, and a single tap leads to a convincing but fraudulent page. The small sums requested — a redelivery fee, a customs charge — are low enough to seem worth paying to avoid losing the parcel.
How this scam works on SMS / text
The text, posing as a courier, says your parcel could not be delivered, is held pending a fee, or needs you to confirm details for redelivery, with a link to act. The sender ID or link may be styled to resemble a known courier.
The link opens a cloned courier page requesting a small payment and your card and personal details. The payment is minor, but the captured card data and information enable larger fraud, and some pages also install malware.
The everyday plausibility of a missed delivery and the small fee are designed to lower suspicion and prompt a quick tap.
Common red flags
- A text says a parcel could not be delivered or is held pending a fee
- A small redelivery or customs fee is requested via a link
- The link opens a courier page asking for card and personal details
- You are not expecting that specific parcel, or the courier is wrong
- The link's address does not match the courier's official domain
- You are urged to act quickly to avoid the parcel being returned
How to protect yourself
- Do not tap links in unexpected delivery texts
- Track parcels only through the courier's official app or website typed yourself
- Never enter card details on a page reached from a delivery text
- Be sceptical of small 'fees' for redelivery or customs by text link
- Delete the message and block the sender
- Check directly with the retailer if you are expecting a genuine parcel
How to report it
- Forward the text to your national smishing or spam reporting number where available
- Report the impersonation to the courier via its official site
- File a report with your local fraud or cybercrime reporting service
Frequently asked questions
I paid the small redelivery fee — is that really a big deal if the amount was tiny?
The small amount lost is often less concerning than the card and personal details captured on the fake page, which can be used for larger unauthorized charges later. Contact your card provider to flag the card and monitor your statement closely, and consider requesting a replacement card if worried.
How do I check if I actually have a parcel in transit without using the text link?
Log in directly to the retailer's website or app where you placed any order, or use the courier's official tracking tool by typing its address yourself, rather than the link in the text. If you have no pending orders, the text is very likely unrelated to any genuine delivery.
Why do fake delivery texts ask for such small amounts of money?
A small fee feels easy to pay without much thought, lowering the barrier to entering your card details on the fake page — the real goal is often capturing those details for larger fraud, not the small fee itself. Treat any payment request through a delivery text link with the same caution regardless of the amount.
A delivery text asks for a small redelivery fee — should I pay?
No. Couriers do not collect redelivery or customs fees through a text link, and the page is designed to steal your card details. Track any genuine parcel through the courier's official app or website instead.