Fake Royal Mail Parcel-Locker Collection Phishing Scam
Scammers send text messages or emails impersonating Royal Mail, claiming a parcel has been placed in a local parcel locker and that a fee or account verification is needed to retrieve it. Royal Mail's real parcel-locker service, Royal Mail Parcel Collect, and its Safeplace system never charge recipients a fee to access a waiting parcel.
Part of: Parcel Locker Phishing Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Royal Mail has expanded its use of parcel lockers in partnership with InPost and through its own Parcel Collect service. Criminals exploit public awareness of these services to craft convincing messages claiming a missed delivery has been redirected to a nearby locker and that access requires a small payment or identity check.
The message contains a link to a spoofed royalmail.com page asking for card details or login credentials. Victims who comply hand over financial information that is then used for fraud.
Royal Mail's genuine locker notifications are sent through the contact details on the original shipment and contain a retrieval barcode. No payment is ever required to collect a parcel from a Royal Mail Parcel Locker or InPost locker, and all genuine tracking updates are available at royalmail.com or through the Royal Mail app.
How this scam works on the Royal Mail brand
The message reads: 'Royal Mail: Your parcel is being held at a local locker. A £1.50 access fee is required within 12 hours. Collect now: [link].' The fake page closely mimics the Royal Mail website design, complete with the correct red branding and header.
Some versions claim the locker is near the recipient's postcode, using approximate location data harvested from social media to increase credibility. Others ask for a National Insurance number or date of birth as part of 'identity confirmation' before the locker PIN is revealed.
A genuine Royal Mail locker or InPost notification includes the specific locker location address and a QR code or PIN delivered to your registered contact details — it never asks for card payment to access the locker.
Common red flags
- Claim that a Royal Mail locker access fee must be paid via a link
- Link does not go to royalmail.com
- Request for National Insurance number to collect a parcel
- Locker address is vague or cannot be found on InPost's or Royal Mail's real locator tools
- Message arrives from an unknown mobile number rather than a Royal Mail shortcode
- Urgency: parcel returned or destroyed within 12-24 hours
- Branding uses slightly wrong shades of red or an incorrect logo typeface
How to protect yourself
- Track your parcel directly at royalmail.com using your tracking number
- Download the Royal Mail app to manage deliveries and get genuine notifications
- Never pay a fee via a link in an unsolicited text or email to collect from a locker
- Contact Royal Mail customer services at royalmail.com/help or call 03457 740 740
- Forward the smishing text to 7726
- Report phishing attempts to Royal Mail at [email protected]
- If card details were entered, contact your bank immediately
How to report it
- Email [email protected] with a screenshot of the message
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- Report to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
- If financial loss occurred, also report to your local police
- Report to the NCSC via the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
Does Royal Mail charge to access a parcel locker?
No. Royal Mail Parcel Lockers and InPost lockers used by Royal Mail do not charge recipients a fee to collect their parcels. Any message claiming otherwise is a scam.
How do I find out if a parcel is genuinely in a locker near me?
Enter your tracking number at royalmail.com or in the Royal Mail app. If a parcel has been redirected to a locker, the official tracking page will show the specific locker address and a retrieval code.
What should I do if I have already paid the 'locker fee'?
Contact your bank immediately to dispute the charge and block further transactions. Report the fraud to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk and forward the original message to [email protected].