High riskDelivery

An Post Text Scam

This scam sends a fake An Post text about a held parcel or an unpaid customs or redelivery fee, linking to a phishing page that collects your card and personal details under the guise of releasing your delivery.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation scam
Main red flag
An unexpected An Post text asking you to pay a customs or redelivery fee through a link.
What to do first
Do not click the link. Check any parcel directly through the official An Post website or app.

What to know first

This scam sends a fake An Post text about a held parcel or an unpaid customs or redelivery fee, linking to a phishing page that collects your card and personal details under the guise of releasing your delivery.

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: An unexpected An Post text asking you to pay a customs or redelivery fee through a link. Do not click the link. Check any parcel directly through the official An Post website or app.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Customs Fee Text and the Fake Delivery 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

  • An unexpected delivery text when you may not be expecting a parcel
  • A small customs or redelivery fee request to release the item
  • A link that does not lead to the official anpost.ie domain
  • Urgent wording warning the parcel will be returned or held
  • A request for card or personal details to reschedule delivery

Staying safe

  • Do not click the link or enter any details
  • Check your tracking number directly on the official An Post website or app
  • Forward the text to your mobile provider's spam reporting service if available
  • Delete the message and block the sender

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'An Post: Your parcel is held pending an unpaid customs fee of €2.99. Pay now to arrange delivery: [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: An unexpected An Post text asking you to pay a customs or redelivery fee through a link.

Steps if you already acted

  • Do not enter any more information on the page
  • If you entered card details, contact your bank to flag or freeze the card
  • Change the password for any account where you reused that login
  • Watch your statements for unexpected charges

Common mistakes

  • Do not reply to the message
  • Do not share verification codes
  • Do not download any app the link suggests

Scams like this one

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
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

Your questions answered

Does An Post request customs fees by text message?
Any genuine charge can be confirmed through the official An Post website or app. A small fee demanded through a text link is a common scam pattern worth treating with caution.
I am expecting a parcel, so is the text genuine?
Scammers rely on this. Even if you are expecting something, check the tracking number on the official site rather than using the link in the text.
What if I already paid the fee?
Contact your bank right away to report the transaction and protect your card. The sooner you act, the more likely the charge can be stopped or disputed.
How can I report an An Post text scam?
You can report it to your mobile provider, to An Post through its official fraud or contact page, and to the Garda or your national anti-fraud service.

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.