High riskDelivery

Address Confirmation Delivery Scam

This scam claims a parcel cannot be delivered until you 'confirm' or 'update' your address through a link, which leads to a page that collects your personal details and sometimes a small card payment.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation (phishing)
Main red flag
A delivery message asking you to confirm or update your address through a link.
What to do first
Do not click. Manage delivery details only in the retailer's or courier's official app.

What to know first

This scam claims a parcel cannot be delivered until you 'confirm' or 'update' your address through a link, which leads to a page that collects your personal details and sometimes a small card payment.

Delivery scams (a form of smishing) impersonate couriers with a believable small problem, an unpaid fee, a wrong address, a held parcel, timed to arrive when you might be expecting something. The link leads to a cloned courier site that harvests your card details and a bank one-time code.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: A delivery message asking you to confirm or update your address through a link. Do not click. Manage delivery details only in the retailer's or courier's official app.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Delivery Text Scam and the Royal Mail Text Scam. For the wider picture, browse the Delivery & Postal Scams guides or run the message through our scam checker.

Scam statistics

#2
fake package-delivery texts were the second most-reported text scam in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$330M
reported lost to text-message scams in the US in 2022
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Tell-tale red flags

  • A request to 'confirm' or 'update' your address via a link
  • A delivery you cannot match to a real order
  • A link that does not match the courier's or retailer's official site
  • A small fee added once you reach the page
  • Urgent wording that the parcel will be returned

Staying safe

  • Manage delivery and address details only in the official courier or retailer app
  • Check the order directly with the retailer you bought from
  • Report and delete the message
  • Verify any genuine delivery through official tracking

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Delivery failed: address could not be verified. Please confirm your address details to reschedule your parcel: [suspicious link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What to notice: A delivery message asking you to confirm or update your address through a link.

Steps if you already acted

  • Do not enter personal or card details on the page
  • If you entered card details, contact your bank to flag the card
  • Change passwords if you entered a login
  • Watch your statements for unexpected charges

Common mistakes

  • Do not confirm your address through links in messages
  • Do not enter card details to 'reschedule' a delivery
  • Do not assume it is real just because you ordered something recently

Scams like this one

High risk Delivery

Fake Delivery Text Scam

This scam impersonates a courier with a missed-delivery text and a link to a fake page that asks for a fee or your personal and card details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Delivery

Royal Mail Text Scam

This scam sends a fake Royal Mail text claiming a parcel is held over an unpaid shipping or customs fee, linking to a phishing page that collects your card and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Delivery

Fake Customs Fee Text

This scam texts that a parcel is held in customs and a fee is due, linking to a fake page that collects your card and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Why would a courier need me to confirm my address by link?
Genuine couriers manage delivery details in their own apps and at official tracking pages, not through unexpected links asking you to re-enter personal and card details.
I did order something recently. Could it be real?
Scammers rely on that coincidence. Check the order with the retailer directly and track it through official channels rather than the link.
What details are they after?
Often your full address, contact information, and card details, sometimes via a small 'fee'. Avoid entering anything and verify through official apps.
I clicked and entered my details. What now?
Contact your bank if you entered card details, change any reused passwords, and monitor your statements for unauthorised charges.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.