Fake Customs Duty / Parcel Release Fee Scam

This scam exploits the fact that low-value customs and duty charges are a genuine part of some international deliveries, making a fake demand for a small fee highly believable. Scammers send a text message or email claiming a parcel is being held by customs, the postal service, or a courier pending payment of an outstanding duty, VAT, or handling charge, usually only a few pounds or dollars.

The message links to a convincing imitation of a postal service, customs authority, or courier website, often carrying the correct branding and a tracking number that appears to match a real order the recipient is expecting — either because the scammer bought leaked tracking data or simply because the message is sent widely enough that some recipients coincidentally have a parcel in transit. The low amount requested is deliberately calculated to bypass the scepticism that a larger sum would trigger.

The true objective is rarely the small fee itself. The payment form is built to capture full card details, and in more advanced versions, a follow-up step asks for a one-time SMS passcode under the guise of 'verifying' the payment, which lets the fraudster complete a much larger unauthorised transaction elsewhere.

The scam begins with a mass text or email blast referencing a customs hold, import duty, or handling fee, timed to coincide with periods when many people are expecting overseas parcels, such as after major shopping events. The message creates urgency by warning that the parcel will be returned to sender or destroyed if the fee is not paid within a short window, often 24 to 48 hours.

Clicking the link leads to a spoofed payment page mimicking the postal service or customs authority's branding, sometimes even copying a real tracking number format so it looks legitimate at a glance. The victim enters their card number, expiry date, and CVV to pay what appears to be a tiny fee, sometimes under five pounds or dollars.

Once the details are submitted, the scammer either uses the card immediately for a larger transaction, sells the harvested data to other criminals, or triggers a fake 'verification required' step that asks for a one-time passcode sent to the victim's phone — which, if entered, can authorise a much larger fraudulent charge in real time. The victim's actual parcel, if one exists, continues through normal delivery with no customs fee ever having been due.

The scam succeeds because the request is small and plausible — many people have paid genuine customs charges before, so a message asking for a modest fee does not trigger the same alarm as a request for a large sum. The artificial deadline discourages the recipient from pausing to verify the claim through official channels.

Brand mimicry and the inclusion of what looks like a real tracking number lend a surface credibility that most recipients do not have the tools to independently check in the moment, especially on a mobile phone where spoofed websites are harder to scrutinise closely.

A shopper who recently ordered a low-cost item from an overseas retailer receives a text message claiming their parcel is being held by customs and a small duty or handling fee must be paid before it can be released for delivery. The message includes a link that opens a page styled to look like the national postal service or customs authority, complete with a tracking number that matches a real shipment the shopper is expecting. The page asks for a payment of a few pounds or dollars by card to 'release' the parcel, and because the amount is trivial the shopper pays without much thought. The payment page then quietly captures the full card number, expiry date, and security code, and in some versions asks for a one-time passcode to 'verify' the cardholder. Days later the shopper notices unfamiliar subscription charges or larger unauthorised transactions on the same card, while the original parcel arrives normally through the post with no customs fee ever having been owed.

Your parcel [tracking number] is being held at customs. A duty fee of [amount] is required for release: [link]

Action required: pay your outstanding customs charge within 24 hours or your parcel will be returned to sender.

We were unable to deliver your package due to an unpaid customs fee. Complete payment here to reschedule: [link]

To verify this transaction, please enter the one-time code just sent to your phone.

Never click a link in an unsolicited text or email about a parcel. Instead, go directly to the postal service, courier, or customs authority's official website or app and check your parcel's status using the tracking number from your original purchase confirmation, not the one in the suspicious message.

Genuine customs or duty charges are typically invoiced by the courier directly, often after delivery or collection, and rarely require payment through a text-message link with a countdown deadline. If you are unsure, contact the retailer you ordered from or the courier's official customer service line using a number found independently, not one provided in the message.