Delivery & travel scams
Delivery and travel scams claim a parcel is held pending a delivery, customs, or redelivery fee, or impersonate couriers and toll/airline operators. The 'fee' captures your card details.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15.
How these scams usually work
Delivery and travel scams rely on the fact that many people are expecting a parcel or have a trip booked. A message claims a package is waiting for a small delivery, customs, or redelivery fee, or that a toll or airline booking needs payment. The link opens a page that mimics the courier, toll operator, or airline and asks for card details to release the item. The fee is tiny on purpose, so it feels easier to pay than to question. The real prize is your card information, sometimes followed by a fake 'bank' call about the same payment.
What the scammers want
- Card details
- Small 'fee' payments
- Personal data
Common red flags
What to do
- Don't tap the link.
- Track via the retailer/courier's official app.
- Never pay customs via a texted link.
What not to do
- Do not pay a 'release' fee.
- Do not enter card details.
- Do not call numbers in the text.
Common scam messages in this category
- Is this package delivery fee text a scam?
- Is this customs clearance fee text a scam?
- Is this unpaid toll payment text a scam?
Top scam types
Related trend reports
- Scam Trends in 2023: Delivery Smishing, Bank Alerts and Early AI Phishing
- Scam Trends in 2024: The Text-Scam Explosion and Investment Fraud Surge
If you were affected
See our recovery guides and report through official channels via the reporting directory. Be wary of anyone offering to recover lost money for an upfront fee.
Official sources checked
- Compliance Alliance - FTC data: top text message scams of 2024 ($470M losses) - Medium reliability
- Brown University OIT - Latest top five text message scams - Medium reliability
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Check a messageFrequently asked questions
Do couriers collect fees by text?
Legitimate couriers very rarely collect fees through an unexpected text with a link. Verify on the official app or site.
I was expecting a parcel, so the delivery-fee text seemed real - how do I check?
Track the parcel only through the courier's official app or website using the reference from the retailer. Genuine couriers rarely ask for a fee by surprise text.
Do real toll or customs charges arrive by text with a link?
Rarely. Verify any charge through the official operator's own site or app, not the link in the message.