Fake Royal Mail Redelivery Card Scam
Fraudsters drop fake 'While You Were Out' cards or send texts impersonating Royal Mail, directing recipients to phishing sites that steal card details under the guise of paying a redelivery or storage fee. Real Royal Mail redelivery is free and booked at royalmail.com.
Part of: Fake Redelivery Card Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Royal Mail is the UK's primary postal service, and its distinctive red livery and 'Sorry, we missed you' cards are familiar to virtually every household. Criminals exploit this familiarity by leaving physical counterfeit redelivery cards — or sending SMS messages — that direct victims to fraudulent websites.
The scam relies on one key deception: telling the recipient that a small fee (often under £2) must be paid to release or rebook their parcel. In reality, Royal Mail's standard redelivery service is free of charge and can be arranged at royalmail.com without any payment.
Both the physical-card variant and the SMS smishing variant have been active in the UK for several years. Action Fraud and Royal Mail have issued repeated public warnings about them.
How this scam works on the Royal Mail brand
Physical cards mimic the genuine Royal Mail 'P739' missed-delivery slip but include a phone number or web address that is not royalmail.com. The fake site then requests card details to pay a 'storage fee'.
SMS variants read: 'Royal Mail: We attempted delivery of your parcel. A storage fee of £1.99 applies. Book redelivery: [link].' The link goes to a convincing clone of the Royal Mail website asking for full card details.
Real Royal Mail missed-delivery cards (P739) never ask you to pay anything online. The genuine card instructs you to collect from your local delivery office — identified by name and address on the card — or to book a free redelivery at royalmail.com/redelivery using the reference number printed on the card.
Common red flags
- A redelivery fee is demanded — Royal Mail's standard redelivery is free
- The card or text links to a site other than royalmail.com
- The phone number on the card is a premium-rate or mobile number, not Royal Mail's 03457 740 740
- The card does not name your specific local delivery office with an address
- The website requests credit or debit card details to book redelivery
- Unusual urgency: 'parcel will be returned to sender within 24 hours if fee unpaid'
- Text arrives from a random mobile number rather than a Royal Mail short code
How to protect yourself
- Book redelivery only at royalmail.com/redelivery — it is free
- Check your genuine Royal Mail missed-delivery card for the local delivery office address where you can collect in person
- Never pay a redelivery fee in response to an SMS or physical card
- Sign up for Royal Mail Delivery to Neighbour or Safe Place instructions to avoid missed deliveries
- Forward any suspicious texts to 7726
- If a physical card seems suspicious, compare it with images of genuine Royal Mail P739 cards available on the Royal Mail website
How to report it
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- Report phishing websites to the NCSC at report.ncsc.gov.uk (Suspicious Email Reporting Service also accepts texts)
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040
- Alert Royal Mail's security team via the contact form at royalmail.com/help/scam-mail
- If card details were compromised, contact your bank's fraud department immediately
Frequently asked questions
Does Royal Mail ever charge a redelivery fee?
Royal Mail's standard redelivery service for items delivered by Royal Mail is free. You book it at royalmail.com/redelivery. Any message or card demanding payment for redelivery is a scam.
What does a genuine Royal Mail missed-delivery card look like?
A genuine P739 card is red and white, names the specific local delivery office with its address and opening hours, and gives you the option to collect in person or book a free redelivery online. It does not ask for payment.
I paid the fee on the fake site. What should I do?
Contact your bank's fraud team immediately to dispute the transaction and replace your card. Report the incident to Action Fraud and to the NCSC's phishing reporting service.