Package Customs Fee Text Scam Script
This text message claims to be from customs or a postal service, stating a parcel is held and a small fee is required to release it for delivery. The small amount is intentional; it feels too minor to question, especially if you're expecting a delivery around that time, but the link leads to a fake payment page that captures your full card number, expiry date, and security code rather than processing a genuine customs charge. The message often adds urgency about the parcel being returned. The most important step is to check any charge through the postal service's official app.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Royal Mail: your parcel is held at customs. A [amount] import fee is due. Pay within 48h to avoid return: [fake link]
USPS: package [tracking number] is awaiting customs clearance. A [amount] duty payment is required: [fake link]
Customs notice: your international shipment requires a [amount] release payment. Please pay here: [fake link]. This is time-sensitive.
Your parcel from [country] has incurred import duties of [amount]. Pay now to release your package within 24 hours: [fake link]
What the scammer wants
To direct you to a fake payment page where your card number, expiry, CVV, and billing address are harvested for fraud — the small fee amount makes victims less cautious.
Red flags in the message
- Unexpected customs fee demand by text message
- A link that does not match the official postal service domain
- No parcel reference you recognise from an actual order
- Tight deadline — 24 or 48 hours to pay or parcel returned
- Request for full card details including CVV on a web form
A safe response
Do not click the link. Search for the official customs or postal service website and enter any tracking number there directly. Legitimate customs bills in many countries arrive by post, not SMS.
What not to send
- Card details or CVV
- Online banking credentials
- Any fee via the link in the text
What to do if you already replied
- Call your bank immediately if card details were entered
- Report the text to your mobile carrier (forward to 7726 in UK/US)
- Check your statements for unexpected charges
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times
Frequently asked questions
I am expecting an international parcel — could this fee be genuine?
Genuine customs fees are usually notified through the postal service's own tracking system or official correspondence, not by text with a payment link, so verify directly through the courier's official app or website using your own tracking number. Don't assume urgency in the text means it's real.
I paid the small fee — should I be worried?
Yes — the page likely captured your full card details rather than just processing a small charge, so contact your card issuer to flag possible fraud and watch your statement closely for further unauthorized transactions in the following weeks.
How do real customs fees usually get collected?
They're typically collected by the courier at the point of delivery, through your national postal service's official billing system, or via a letter, not by unsolicited text message with an immediate payment link.
Should I click the link just to see what it's about without entering any details?
It's safer to avoid clicking the link altogether, since some pages can attempt to install malware or track your device even without you entering data. Delete the text and check any real parcel status directly through the official tracking site.