Fake Redelivery Card Scams
Criminals place counterfeit 'we missed you' delivery cards through letterboxes, directing victims to phishing sites or premium-rate phone lines to 'rebook' a delivery.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake redelivery card scams use physical cards — printed to resemble genuine 'we missed you' or 'attempted delivery' notices from well-known courier companies — to direct victims to fraudulent websites or premium-rate telephone numbers. Unlike most courier scams that begin digitally, this variant relies on a convincing physical document delivered to the victim's home, which gives it a significant credibility advantage.
The cards are typically inserted through letterboxes in residential streets, often in batches covering many homes simultaneously, without any genuine delivery attempt having been made. The victim finds the card and, believing they missed a real parcel, follows the instructions to either visit a website or call a number to arrange redelivery.
On the fraudulent website, victims are asked to pay a redelivery fee and enter full card details. On premium-rate phone lines, the call itself generates charges that go to the fraudster. Some website variants also harvest personal details, login credentials, or both under the pretence of verifying the delivery address.
The scam is particularly effective because a physical card in the letterbox is harder to dismiss as spam than a text message or email. Recipients who have genuinely ordered something — a large proportion of the population at any given time — are especially susceptible because the card confirms a prior expectation.
How it works
Fraudsters print batches of fake delivery cards using publicly available design templates or scans of genuine cards. The cards include the logo and colour scheme of a real courier company, a generic reference number, the current date, and instructions to visit a website or call a number within a specified timeframe — typically 48 to 72 hours — to avoid the parcel being returned.
The cards are distributed through letterboxes across a target area, often by individuals hired as unknowing couriers for what they are told is a marketing or survey job. In some cases, the distributors are themselves unaware they are participating in fraud.
Victims who call the listed number reach either a fraudster posing as the courier's customer service team, who requests card details to process a redelivery fee, or a premium-rate number that charges the caller for the duration of the call. Those who visit the listed website are directed to a convincing fake courier page where they enter card details, delivery address, and sometimes login credentials for a courier account.
The fraudster receives either direct payment card details for misuse or premium-rate call revenue, while the victim waits for a parcel that never exists.
Why this scam works
A physical card in the letterbox bypasses the scepticism that most people now apply to unexpected emails or texts. People are trained to be suspicious of digital fraud but tend to trust physical documents more readily.
The existence of a real-looking card also creates a plausible reason to act. The victim is not being cold-contacted out of nowhere — they believe they missed a delivery, which is a routine and believable event. The urgency of a return-to-sender deadline adds pressure to act quickly.
Common red flags
- Redelivery card uses a website URL that does not match the official courier's known domain
- Phone number on the card starts with a premium-rate prefix
- Card asks for payment before a redelivery can be arranged
- No tracking information is available when the reference number is checked on the real courier site
- Card appears to have been printed rather than professionally produced
- Card is identical to ones received by several neighbours who were not expecting deliveries
- The courier logo or branding looks slightly off, blurry, or uses wrong colours
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
We attempted to deliver your parcel today but no one was home. Ref: [reference number]. Visit [fake site] or call [number] within 48 hours to rebook.
[Courier Name]: Your parcel requires a signature. Please arrange redelivery at [fake link] or call [number]. A redelivery fee of [small amount] applies.
Sorry we missed you. Your item is held at our depot. To confirm your delivery address and pay the redelivery charge, visit [fake site].
[Courier Name]: Parcel held. Unclaimed parcels are returned after 72 hours. Contact us immediately: [premium number] or [fake link].
Delivery attempt: [date]. Driver notes: no answer. Your parcel will be returned in 2 days unless you confirm at [fake link].
Common variations
- Cards state that a parcel requires customs duty payment before release
- QR code on the card leads directly to a phishing site without a visible URL
- Card claims the parcel contains a time-sensitive legal document requiring a signature fee
- Fraudulent cards target businesses, claiming a commercial delivery requires payment to release
How to verify before you act
Before calling any number or visiting any website on a delivery card, check the tracking number on the official courier's website by typing the URL yourself. Every legitimate attempted delivery generates a real tracking record that will be visible in the courier's own system.
If no tracking event appears for your postcode or address in the relevant timeframe, the card is likely fraudulent. Call the courier using the number listed on their official website — not the number on the card — to ask whether a delivery was attempted.
None of the major courier companies charge a redelivery fee that must be paid before redelivery. Any card asking for payment to rebook a delivery is a strong scam indicator.
Payment methods used
- Cryptocurrency
- Bank/wire transfer
- Gift cards
- Money transfer services
- Payment apps to 'friends & family'
Who is usually targeted
- Regular online shoppers
- Anyone in a residential area with active courier deliveries
- People who frequently receive parcels and are accustomed to missed-delivery cards
What to do immediately
- Do not call the number or visit the website on the card until you have verified the card's legitimacy
- Check the tracking reference number on the real courier's official website
- Call the courier's official number (found on their website, not on the card) to ask if a delivery was attempted
- If you have already paid a fee or entered card details, call your bank immediately to cancel the card
- Report the fake card to the courier company whose branding was used, so they can warn other customers
- Report the scam to your national fraud reporting body
How to prevent it
- Always verify a delivery card reference number on the official courier website before taking any action
- Never call a number printed on an unexpected card without first checking it against the courier's official site
- Be aware that no major courier charges a redelivery fee via a card
- Report suspected fake cards to the courier company whose branding has been copied
- If you regularly receive parcels, set up accounts with major couriers so you can check delivery history directly
- Alert neighbours if you receive a fake card — others on the same street may have received the same batch
Evidence to preserve
- The physical card itself — preserve it for reporting
- Photos of both sides of the card, including any URL, phone number, or reference number
- Records of any calls made to the number on the card, including duration and charges
- Bank transaction records if a fee was paid
- Screenshot of any website you visited from the card
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a real missed-delivery card from a fake one?
Check the tracking reference on the courier's official website — type the address directly, do not use the link on the card. Real delivery attempts always generate a tracking record. Also compare the website URL on the card against the courier's known official domain. If the URL differs even slightly, do not visit it. Major courier companies use consistent, verifiable domains — any deviation is a red flag. When in doubt, call the courier's official customer service number.
I called the number on the card and it was a premium-rate line. What now?
Contact your mobile or phone provider and explain that you were deceived into calling a premium-rate number as part of a scam. Many providers will reverse unexpected premium-rate charges in these circumstances. Report the number to your national telephone regulatory body and to the courier company whose branding was used. Also file a report with your national fraud reporting service.