Fake Delivery Texts on WeChat
How scammers impersonate delivery couriers on WeChat to trick recipients into clicking phishing links or paying fake customs fees.
Part of: Fake Delivery Texts
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
As e-commerce activity in WeChat-using markets has grown, so has the incidence of fake delivery notifications sent through the platform. Fraudsters impersonate major courier and postal services, sending messages that warn of a failed delivery attempt, a customs hold, or a parcel requiring an address update — all designed to prompt an urgent click or payment.
WeChat's integration of mini-programs and in-app web views makes it easy for a malicious link to open a convincing imitation of a courier portal without the victim leaving the app, reducing the visual cues that might otherwise signal fraud.
How this scam works on WeChat
A WeChat message arrives claiming to be from a widely recognised courier service, stating that a parcel could not be delivered because of an address discrepancy or a small outstanding customs charge. A link directs the recipient to a WeChat mini-program or an external page styled to look like the courier's official portal.
The page requests personal information — name, address, phone number, and payment card details — to 'release' the parcel. Card details entered are captured and used for wider fraud. In variants where only a nominal fee is requested, the genuine goal is to validate that the card is active rather than to collect the fee itself.
Some campaigns are targeted at users who have recently shared parcel tracking numbers in WeChat conversations with friends, suggesting the fraudsters monitor chat content or buy stolen order data.
Common red flags
- WeChat message from an unknown account impersonating a well-known courier
- Urgent language warning that a parcel will be returned if action is not taken within hours
- Link leads to a mini-program or external site requesting card payment for a small customs or redelivery fee
- The courier's official name appears in the username but with slight misspellings
- No genuine tracking number that can be verified on the courier's official website
- Request for more personal data than a simple address update would require
How to protect yourself
- Track parcels only through the official app or website of the carrier confirmed in your original order confirmation
- Never click a payment link sent via WeChat claiming to be from a courier — go directly to the official site instead
- Contact the sender of any expected parcel to verify courier details before acting on a delivery message
- Report suspicious WeChat accounts using the in-app report feature before blocking
- If you entered card details on a suspect page, notify your bank immediately
How to report it
- Use WeChat's 'Report' function on the message to flag suspected phishing or fraud
- Report the fake mini-program to WeChat's official channel for mini-program abuse if the link used one
- Notify your bank or card issuer if payment details were submitted on the fraudulent page
Frequently asked questions
Would a real courier ever ask for payment via a WeChat link?
Legitimate couriers do not request payment through unsolicited WeChat messages. Any such request should be treated as fraudulent until independently verified through the courier's official contact channels.