Medium riskDelivery

Cash on Delivery Parcel Scam

In this scam, a parcel you never ordered arrives marked cash on delivery, and you or a family member pays for it before discovering it is junk, empty, or far less than the amount charged.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Cash-on-delivery deception
Main red flag
A courier asks for cash on delivery for a parcel nobody ordered.
What to do first
Do not pay for parcels you cannot confirm anyone ordered; refuse delivery.

What to know first

In this scam, a parcel you never ordered arrives marked cash on delivery, and you or a family member pays for it before discovering it is junk, empty, or far less than the amount charged.

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 courier asks for cash on delivery for a parcel nobody ordered. Do not pay for parcels you cannot confirm anyone ordered; refuse delivery.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Brushing Scam 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

  • A cash-on-delivery parcel nobody recalls ordering
  • Pressure to pay the courier on the spot
  • A parcel addressed to a family member who did not order it
  • No matching order confirmation
  • A courier unwilling to let you verify first

Staying safe

  • Refuse delivery if no one in the household ordered it
  • Check with family before paying for any COD parcel
  • Verify any genuine order with the retailer before paying
  • Report repeated unordered COD parcels to the courier

How it usually reads

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: A courier arrives with a parcel addressed to your household marked 'COD $35'. Once paid and opened, it contains a cheap or empty item.

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 courier asks for cash on delivery for a parcel nobody ordered.

Steps if you already acted

  • If you paid, try to refuse and return it through the courier's process
  • Contact the courier and retailer about a refund
  • Keep the parcel, label, and receipt as evidence
  • Warn family members about the scam

Common mistakes

  • Do not pay for parcels nobody ordered
  • Do not let a courier rush you into paying
  • Do not assume a parcel is genuine because it has your address

Scams like this one

Low risk Online Shopping

Brushing Scam

In this scam, you receive parcels you never ordered, sent by a seller using your name and address to post fake 'verified' reviews; while the items are free, it can signal your personal details are being misused.

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
Medium risk Delivery

Missed Delivery Card Scam

In this scam, a fake 'sorry we missed you' card is left at your door asking you to call a premium-rate number or visit a website to arrange redelivery, charging high call fees or phishing your details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Your questions answered

Do I have to pay for a COD parcel I didn't order?
No. If no one in your household ordered it, you can refuse delivery. Verify any genuine order with the retailer before paying.
A family member ordered something, so is it safe?
Check with them first. Scammers rely on someone paying without confirming. Match it to a real order confirmation before handing over cash.
I already paid and it's junk. What now?
Try to return it through the courier's process, contact the courier and retailer about a refund, and keep the parcel and receipt as evidence.
How can I prevent this?
Tell household members to verify orders before paying COD, and refuse parcels that do not match a known order.

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.