Is a delivery driver asking for a cash payment on the doorstep a scam?
Treat it with caution. Doorstep cash payment requests can be legitimate customs charges but are also used in delivery scams and distraction burglaries.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
Genuine customs or import tax charges are sometimes collected on delivery for items shipped internationally, but these are documented on an official customs form accompanying the parcel, can be verified with the postal service, and are typically charged at a known flat rate or percentage. Scammers sometimes pose as delivery drivers — or accompany a legitimate-looking delivery — demanding unexpected cash fees. Some doorstep scams use one person to hold attention while an accomplice enters the property. If a driver demands cash with no paperwork, ask for a formal customs docket, refuse to pay without documentation, and contact the courier company directly to verify.
Legitimate courier operations have moved overwhelmingly to cashless, documented payment precisely because doorstep cash is unaccountable. Genuine customs or handling charges generate a paper trail you can check — a reference number, an official notice, a payment page on the courier's own domain — before anyone stands on your doorstep. An improvised cash demand with none of these is a strong signal on its own.
The personal-safety dimension matters as much as the money. Distraction techniques rely on drawing you into discussion, so keep the interaction short and the door secured while you verify. Refusing an undocumented payment costs you nothing: a genuine parcel with a genuine charge will follow official channels, and a card left through the letterbox can always be checked later.
Common red flags
- Driver demands cash but has no customs or fee paperwork
- Amount demanded varies or is negotiable
- Driver asks to come inside for any reason
- Two people arrive together with only one in uniform
- No parcel reference matching any order you placed
What to do now
- Ask for written customs documentation before paying anything
- Keep the door closed or chain on while verifying
- Call the courier company on the number from their official website
- Report suspicious doorstep visits to local police
Frequently asked questions
Are legitimate customs fees collected on delivery?
Yes, but they come with official paperwork and can be independently verified with the courier or customs authority. A legitimate driver will wait while you check — a scammer will pressure you to pay quickly.
The driver left with my parcel when I refused to pay — did I lose it?
A genuine held parcel remains retrievable through the courier's official process once any real charge is settled. If the parcel and 'driver' vanish entirely, the demand was fraudulent and refusing was the correct call. Verify through your retailer's tracking either way.