Package Delivery Text Scam: “Pay a Redelivery Fee”
Got a text saying your package can’t be delivered unless you pay a small fee? Learn how the delivery text scam works and what to do.
What the message looks like
Scam messages change all the time, but they often look something like this example (the names and links are made up):
How the scam works
You get a text or email that looks like it is from a postal service or courier. It says a package couldn’t be delivered and asks you to confirm your address and pay a small fee. The link leads to a fake website that looks real. The fee is tiny on purpose: the real goal is your card number, and sometimes your bank login or a one-time code.
Once scammers have your card details, they may make larger purchases, sell the details, or call you pretending to be your bank’s fraud team.
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Warning signs
- You weren’t expecting a package, or the message doesn’t name what was sent.
- A short deadline, like 12 or 24 hours.
- A link to a website that isn’t the courier’s real address, often with an unusual ending.
- A request to pay a fee by card to “release” the package.
- The message came from a random phone number or personal email address.
What to do
- Don’t click the link or reply.
- If you are expecting a package, open the courier’s official app or type their website address yourself, and enter the tracking number from the shop’s confirmation email.
- Report the text to your phone company (many countries use a short code for forwarding spam texts) and delete it.
If you already paid
Call your bank using the number on the back of your card, tell them you entered your card on a fake site, and ask them to block the card. Watch your statement for unfamiliar charges. If anyone calls claiming to be your bank and asks for a code, hang up and call the bank yourself.
Not sure if a message is real?
Paste or screenshot it into our free scam checker. You’ll see the warning signs and what to do.
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