Romance Scam 'Customs Fee on a Gift' Message Examples
After weeks or months of online courtship, the scammer claims to have sent a valuable gift — jewellery, cash, or a device — now said to be held by customs, requiring an urgent fee to release it. The scammer's real goal is repeated payments framed as the final step before receiving both the gift and continued connection with someone you've grown attached to. The lever is a romantic bond built deliberately over time, which makes refusing to pay feel like betraying someone you trust. No real gift is being held; stop payments immediately and verify the relationship's authenticity with input from someone outside the situation.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
My darling, I sent you a gift worth [amount] — gold jewellery and some cash. The customs office says there is a [amount] clearance fee before they can deliver it to you. I am stuck abroad and cannot pay. Can you cover it and I will repay you the moment I am back?
The package I shipped to you has been stopped at [airport] customs. They require [amount] duty payment. I tried to pay from here but my card is blocked internationally. Please pay and send me the receipt — I promise to transfer it back with interest.
Hi love, a courier company just emailed me — the surprise I sent you requires a [amount] import duty at your local office. I am so embarrassed to ask but I cannot access my accounts from here. Could you pay and I will wire you back double as soon as I land?
What the scammer wants
To extract money repeatedly under the guise of releasing a parcel that does not exist, often escalating with new fees each time the victim pays.
Red flags in the message
- An online partner you have never met in person claiming to send an expensive gift
- A 'customs fee' arising shortly after a romantic relationship establishes financial trust
- Requests to pay via bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift card
- The partner is always abroad, in the military, or otherwise unable to pay themselves
- Multiple escalating fees after each payment
A safe response
No parcel exists. This is a classic romance scam escalation tactic. Do not send money. Talk to someone you trust about the relationship before taking any financial action.
What not to send
- Any customs or clearance fee payment
- Gift cards or cryptocurrency
- Bank transfer to an unknown account on behalf of an online contact
What to do if you already replied
- Stop all contact with the person and do not send further payments
- Report to the national romance-fraud reporting line and your bank
- Seek support from a trusted friend, family member, or victim support service
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've paid the customs fee but now they say there's another charge — should I pay it?
No — there is no real parcel, so further payments will not release anything and will simply continue the pattern. Stop sending money at this point, regardless of how the request is framed.
Can I get back the money I've already sent?
It depends heavily on the payment method and how quickly you act — contact your bank about a dispute if paid by card, though wire transfers, gift cards, and cryptocurrency are much harder to recover. Report the transactions to your bank and to a national fraud or romance-scam reporting service regardless of recovery chances.
How do I know if this relationship is even real?
Look for signs like never being able to video call, reasons piling up for why you can't meet in person, and a relationship that escalated quickly toward requests for money. A reverse image search of their profile photos can also reveal if the pictures are stolen from someone else entirely.
Is it safe to keep talking to them while I figure out what's going on?
It's reasonable to pause and think without immediately cutting contact if you want more certainty, but do not send any further money or personal financial information during that time. Consider talking to a trusted friend or family member outside the situation, who can often see warning signs more clearly than you can in the moment.