Fake Parcel Delivery Texts: How to Spot a Scam Royal Mail, Evri or DPD Message
If you've received a text recently claiming a parcel couldn't be delivered and asking for a small payment, you're far from alone. This is currently the most commonly reported scam text in the UK, and it catches people out precisely because it's ordinary and easy to believe — everyone gets deliveries. This guide explains exactly how it works and how to protect yourself.
Software for Seniors
7/14/20262 min read
How the scam works
The text usually claims to be from Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, Yodel, or Amazon Logistics, and says your parcel couldn't be delivered — often because of an "incomplete address" or an unpaid "customs fee" or "redelivery charge," typically a small, specific amount such as £1.45 or £2.99. That small figure is deliberate: it feels too minor to be worth questioning.
The message includes a link to "resolve" the issue. That link leads to a convincing fake website designed to look like the real courier's site, where you're asked to enter your card details to pay the fee. Once you do, criminals have your card information — and in many cases, a second stage follows: a phone call from someone posing as your bank's "fraud team," telling you your card has been compromised and that you need to move your money to a "safe account." That follow-up call is where the real financial loss usually happens.
Warning signs to look for
The text comes from a mobile number rather than a short recognisable sender name — genuine couriers rarely text from an ordinary personal-looking mobile number
The link doesn't lead to the courier's real website — look for extra words, unusual endings like .top or .xyz, or a domain that isn't the courier's official .co.uk address
You weren't expecting a parcel at all
There's pressure to act quickly, or the fee is oddly small and specific
What to do instead
Never click the link in the text. If you think you might genuinely have a parcel on the way, go directly to the courier's official app or website by typing the address in yourself, and check your delivery status there. Most couriers also let you check recent activity through your online account without needing any link from a text at all.
If you've already clicked the link or entered card details
Contact your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card and explain what happened — they can block or monitor your card for unusual activity. It's also worth reporting the text to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and forwarding the original message to 7726 so your network can investigate the sender.
A simple habit that protects you
The single most useful habit is this: never use a link inside an unexpected text to check a delivery, log into an account, or make a payment. Go to the organisation's website or app directly, the way you normally would. It takes a few seconds longer and closes off this entire category of scam.
For more guides to staying safe online and on your phone, visit softwareforseniors.co.uk.
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