High riskDelivery

China Post Text Scam

This scam sends a fake China Post text about a missed delivery, customs charge, or small fee, linking to a page that collects your card and personal details.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation (smishing)
Main red flag
An unexpected China Post text asking you to pay a fee or confirm details via a link.
What to do first
Do not click. Check any delivery through the official China Post website or app.

How this scam works

This scam sends a fake China Post text about a missed delivery, customs charge, or small fee, linking to a page that collects your card and personal details.

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.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: An unexpected China Post text asking you to pay a fee or confirm details via a link. Do not click. Check any delivery through the official China Post website or app.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the SF Express Text Scam and the Fake Customs Fee Text. See the full Delivery & Postal Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A delivery text when you may not be expecting a parcel
  • A small customs or redelivery fee request
  • A link that is not the official China Post domain
  • Urgent wording about the parcel being returned
  • A request for card or personal details

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'China Post: your parcel is held pending a customs fee. Pay here 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 gives it away: An unexpected China Post text asking you to pay a fee or confirm details via a link.

The scale of it

#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

How to protect yourself

  • Check tracking on the official China Post website or app
  • Report the scam text through official channels
  • Verify any genuine charge through official channels
  • Delete the message and block the sender

Already responded? Do this now

  • Do not enter card or personal details on the page
  • If you paid, contact your bank to flag or freeze the card
  • Change passwords for any reused login
  • Watch your statements for unexpected charges

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not click the link or enter details
  • Do not reply to the message
  • Do not download any app the link suggests

Related scams to know

High risk Delivery

SF Express Text Scam

This scam sends a fake SF Express text about a missed delivery, address problem, or small fee, linking to a page that harvests your card and personal information.

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
High risk Delivery

India Post Text Scam

This scam sends a fake India Post text about a missed delivery, incomplete address, or small fee, linking to a page that collects your card and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Does China Post charge fees by text link?
Genuine charges are confirmed through the official China Post website, and redelivery is normally free. A fee demanded via a text link is a common scam pattern.
I am expecting a parcel, so is it real?
Scammers count on this. Check the tracking on the official site or app rather than using the link in the text.
How do I report a China Post scam text?
Report it through China Post's official channels, forward it to your mobile provider's spam service if available, and delete it.
What if I already paid the fee?
Contact your bank right away to flag the payment and protect your card, and watch for further 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.