Fake Royal Mail Toll-Road or Congestion-Charge Delivery Scam
Fraudsters send texts or emails pretending to be Royal Mail and claiming a congestion or toll charge incurred by a delivery vehicle is blocking the release of a recipient's parcel. Royal Mail manages road and congestion charges internally and never passes these costs to parcel recipients.
Part of: Fake Toll Violation Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
UK urban congestion charges and roadside toll schemes are familiar to most recipients, making them a convenient hook for scammers. Messages impersonating Royal Mail claim that a delivery van carrying a parcel to the recipient went through a congestion or toll zone, and a small charge must be settled before the item can be released.
The fee is typically framed as a Congestion Charge, ULEZ surcharge, or motorway toll, and the amounts are kept deliberately small — often under £5 — to reduce scrutiny. The link leads to a convincing copy of royalmail.com that captures card details.
Royal Mail vehicles are registered with Transport for London for the Congestion Charge and operate under fleet accounts. Neither the Congestion Charge nor any other road toll is ever passed to the parcel recipient as a condition of delivery.
How this scam works on the Royal Mail brand
The message reads: 'Royal Mail: A congestion charge of £4.50 is blocking delivery of your parcel [#XXXXXXX]. Pay to release: [link].' The link leads to a spoofed payment page styled to match royalmail.com.
Some variants reference the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) to increase credibility, a topic that has received significant media attention in the UK. Others claim the charge relates to a rural road toll or a bridge crossing fee.
After payment is taken, a second page sometimes requests 'address confirmation' with full postal address, date of birth, and National Insurance number, converting a small card fraud into a full identity theft attempt.
Common red flags
- Message claims a congestion charge or toll is blocking your Royal Mail delivery
- Any link that is not royalmail.com or tfl.gov.uk
- Small fee framed as a ULEZ or Congestion Charge associated with your parcel
- Request for National Insurance number on a 'payment' page
- No valid Royal Mail tracking number provided that resolves at royalmail.com
- Urgency: parcel returned if not paid within 24 hours
- Email sender is not @royalmail.com
How to protect yourself
- Delete the message — Royal Mail does not pass toll or congestion charges to recipients
- Track your real parcel at royalmail.com using your tracking number
- Contact Royal Mail customer services at royalmail.com/help if you have delivery concerns
- Forward the smishing text to 7726
- Report to [email protected]
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk
- If card details were entered, contact your bank's fraud team
How to report it
- Email [email protected] with a screenshot
- Forward texts to 7726
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
- Report to the NCSC at [email protected]
- Contact your bank if financial details were submitted
Frequently asked questions
Does Royal Mail pass London Congestion Charge costs to parcel recipients?
No. Royal Mail's delivery vehicles are enrolled in Transport for London's fleet schemes and congestion costs are managed internally. No delivery charge is ever passed to the recipient via a payment link.
How do I tell if a Royal Mail tracking number is genuine?
Enter the tracking number directly at royalmail.com. Royal Mail tracking numbers follow a specific format (e.g. two letters, eight digits, two letters). If the number returns no result or an error, it is fabricated.
Is the ULEZ charge ever added to a parcel delivery?
No. ULEZ compliance is the responsibility of the vehicle operator, not the parcel recipient. Any message claiming a ULEZ charge must be paid by the recipient to release a parcel is a scam.