Is a 'your parcel has a customs fee' email real?
Treat it with caution. Customs-fee phishing emails are extremely common — verify any duty claim only through the official carrier or customs authority website.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Emails claiming that an international parcel is being held and requires a customs or import duty payment before release are one of the most widely circulated phishing formats. They typically include a link to a convincing fake payment page that captures your card details or personal information.
Genuine customs duty notices are issued by official agencies or carriers and generally arrive by post or through the carrier's verified app and website. While genuine import fees do exist, the key signal is the payment method: a legitimate duty notice will direct you to the carrier's or customs authority's own verified site — not to a link in an email. If you are expecting an international parcel, check your order confirmation for tracking details and verify the status directly on the carrier's official website.
Common red flags
- Unexpected email about a customs fee for a parcel you are unsure about
- Link in the email goes to a domain that isn't the official carrier or customs authority
- Small fee requested — typically under £5 or $10 — designed to seem routine
- Urgency such as 'parcel will be returned or destroyed if unpaid within 48 hours'
- No tracking number, or one that doesn't appear on the carrier's official site
- Email asks for full card details including the CVV
What to do now
- Do not click the link or enter any payment details
- Go directly to the carrier's official website and check your tracking number
- Contact the carrier's official customer service if you genuinely expect a parcel
- Report the email as phishing to your email provider
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
I am definitely expecting an international parcel. Could the email be genuine?
Even so, verify only through the carrier's official website using the tracking number from your order confirmation. Do not pay through a link in an email.
How do genuine customs fees get communicated?
Official notices usually arrive by post, or through the carrier's own app or verified website. Some carriers do send emails, but they will direct you to their own domain — which you should type directly rather than clicking a link.