Fake Delivery Texts on Snapchat
How phishing delivery notifications reach Snapchat users through fake courier Snaps and story ads, stealing card details under the pretence of releasing a parcel.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
While fake delivery notifications most commonly arrive via SMS, Snapchat's Story advertising and DM systems are increasingly used to distribute parcel-related phishing. The visual format allows fraudsters to create compelling courier-branded content that appears alongside legitimate e-commerce promotions in a user's feed, lending it unearned credibility.
Snapchat's younger demographic often shops heavily online and expects delivery notifications across multiple digital channels, reducing the scepticism that might be applied to an unexpected parcel-related message.
How this scam works on Snapchat
A Snap Story ad or unsolicited DM purports to be from a well-known parcel carrier, warning the recipient of a delivery exception — failed delivery, customs hold, or an incorrect address — and inviting them to click a link to resolve the issue. The link opens a mobile-optimised page mimicking the carrier's branding.
The page requests a small fee to reschedule delivery or clear a customs charge. Card details entered are captured for fraud. In some variants, the page also asks for the full shipping address under the guise of confirming delivery details, enriching the stolen personal-data profile.
Because Snap Stories are ephemeral, the fraudulent ad disappears naturally after 24 hours, reducing the window for the platform to act and making it harder for victims to retrieve evidence.
Common red flags
- Snapchat Story or DM from a courier brand that you cannot verify receiving communications from previously
- Link in the message requests card payment for a delivery fee via a form rather than a recognised payment processor
- Parcel notification arrives when you are not expecting a delivery
- URL on the linked page does not exactly match the carrier's official domain
- Page requests more information than an address confirmation or a small payment would require
- Urgency: parcel will be returned within 24 hours unless action is taken
How to protect yourself
- Track all parcels using the tracking reference and link provided in your original order confirmation only
- Verify any delivery notification by visiting the carrier's official website directly — not via a Snapchat link
- Genuine couriers do not distribute delivery-exception notices through Snapchat Story ads or unsolicited DMs
- Report suspicious Snap Story ads using the 'Report an Ad' option on the content
- Contact your bank immediately if card details were entered on a suspect page
How to report it
- Use Snapchat's 'Report an Ad' or 'Report' function on the message or Story to flag the fraudulent content
- Report the phishing site to your browser's safe-browsing feedback tool
- Notify your bank or card issuer if payment details were submitted, and request card cancellation if necessary
Frequently asked questions
The fake delivery ad appeared as a sponsored Snapchat Story — doesn't that mean Snapchat approved it?
Not necessarily — malicious ads can pass through automated ad review systems, especially ones that closely imitate legitimate courier branding, and Snapchat relies partly on user reports to catch what review missed. Being served an ad is not the same as it being verified as genuine.
The Story with the fake delivery link already disappeared — can I still report it or get help?
If you already clicked the link and entered payment details, contact your bank immediately regardless of whether the Story itself is still visible, since protecting your card matters more than preserving the ad. If you have a screenshot, you can still submit it as evidence to Snapchat support or your consumer protection authority even after the Story expires.
Why do scammers use Snapchat Stories specifically for delivery scams instead of a website?
The 24-hour expiry works in the scammer's favor — it creates urgency for viewers to act fast and limits how long the fraudulent ad is visible for Snapchat's moderation or victims to report and warn others before it's gone. This makes ephemeral formats attractive for time-limited phishing campaigns generally.
Would a real courier send a delivery notification via Snapchat?
No. Parcel carriers communicate through email, SMS, and their own apps using tracking references from the original purchase. A Snapchat delivery notification is not a legitimate courier communication.