High riskDelivery

DPD Text Scam

This scam sends a fake DPD courier text about a missed delivery or a redelivery fee and links to a phishing page that collects your card and personal details.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation scam
Main red flag
An unexpected DPD text about a missed parcel asking you to pay a fee or confirm details through a link.
What to do first
Do not use the link. Check any delivery through the official DPD website or app using your tracking number.

What to know first

This scam sends a fake DPD courier text about a missed delivery or a redelivery fee and links to a phishing 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.

The core pattern to watch for is clear: An unexpected DPD text about a missed parcel asking you to pay a fee or confirm details through a link. Do not use the link. Check any delivery through the official DPD website or app using your tracking number.

Related tricks worth knowing: the Fake Delivery Text Scam and the Evri 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 missed delivery message when you may not be expecting a parcel
  • A small redelivery or 'reschedule' fee requested through a link
  • A link that does not lead to the official dpd.co.uk domain
  • Urgent wording warning the parcel will be returned to sender
  • A request for card or personal details to arrange redelivery

Staying safe

  • Avoid the link and do not enter any details
  • Track any parcel directly on the official DPD website or app using your tracking number
  • 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: 'DPD: We were unable to deliver your parcel. A redelivery fee of £1.99 is required to reschedule: [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 DPD text about a missed parcel asking you to pay a fee or confirm details through a link.

Steps if you already acted

  • Stop and 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
  • Check 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 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

Evri Text Scam

This scam sends a fake Evri courier text about a missed delivery or a needed address or small fee, with a link to a phishing page that collects your card and personal details under the guise of rescheduling your parcel.

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 DPD charge redelivery fees by text message?
Standard redelivery is normally arranged without a fee, and any genuine charge can be checked through the official DPD website or app. A small fee demanded through a text link is a common scam pattern.
I am expecting a DPD parcel, so is the text real?
Scammers rely on this. Even when you are expecting a delivery, check the tracking number on the official DPD site rather than using the link in the text.
What if I already paid the redelivery fee?
Contact your bank right away to report the payment and protect your card. Acting quickly improves the chance the charge can be stopped or disputed.
How can I report a DPD text scam?
You can report it to your mobile provider, to DPD through its official fraud or contact page, and to your national fraud reporting body.

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.