Medium riskOnline Shopping

Fake Tracking Update Scam

After placing an order, or sometimes out of nowhere, you receive an email or text styled as a retailer's own order-tracking update, often flagging a 'delivery exception' or 'parcel on hold'. A link leads to a page that mimics the shop's tracking area and asks for a small fee or your account login to 'release' the parcel. Unlike generic courier-impersonation texts, this version copies the retailer's branding and order flow, which can make a fake update look convincing if you are expecting a delivery.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Order phishing scam
Main red flag
A tracking update asks you to pay a fee or log in through a link to 'release' or 'reschedule' your parcel.
What to do first
Do not use the link in the message, and instead check the order status by logging in to the retailer's site or app directly.

Understanding this scam

After placing an order, or sometimes out of nowhere, you receive an email or text styled as a retailer's own order-tracking update, often flagging a 'delivery exception' or 'parcel on hold'. A link leads to a page that mimics the shop's tracking area and asks for a small fee or your account login to 'release' the parcel. Unlike generic courier-impersonation texts, this version copies the retailer's branding and order flow, which can make a fake update look convincing if you are expecting a delivery.

Online shopping scams use fake stores, unbelievable deals, and counterfeit or never-delivered goods to take your money and card details. Fake sites often surface through ads and social media and pressure you with limited-time offers.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A tracking update asks you to pay a fee or log in through a link to 'release' or 'reschedule' your parcel. Do not use the link in the message, and instead check the order status by logging in to the retailer's site or app directly.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Fake Amazon Order Email or the Fake Shipping Label Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Online Shopping Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Order update: your parcel is on hold due to a delivery exception. A small handling fee of just under one pound is required to release it. Update your order and pay here within 24 hours: [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.

The tell here: A tracking update asks you to pay a fee or log in through a link to 'release' or 'reschedule' your parcel.

What the data shows

Top category
online shopping is one of the most-reported fraud categories to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in 2023, where many fake shops advertise
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • The message asks for a payment, even a tiny one, to release, reschedule, or complete a delivery.
  • You are prompted to log in to your retailer account through a link rather than the official app or site.
  • The email or text creates urgency with a short deadline before the parcel is 'returned'.
  • The sender address or link domain does not match the retailer it claims to be from.
  • The update arrives for an order you did not place, or asks for details the retailer already has.

Your safest response

  • Open the retailer's official app or website yourself and check the order status there.
  • Compare the sender address and any link with the retailer's genuine domain before acting.
  • Treat requests for a small fee to release a parcel with suspicion, as legitimate orders rarely work this way.
  • If unsure, contact the retailer through the help details on its real site, not from the message.

If you have already engaged

  • Avoid entering card details or login information on the linked page and close it.
  • If you entered your retailer password, change it and update any account that shares it.
  • If you paid, contact your card provider quickly to ask about stopping or disputing the charge.
  • Watch your account and statements for further unexpected charges or login attempts.

What to avoid

  • Do not pay a 'release' or 'handling' fee requested through a tracking link.
  • Do not log in to your retailer account from a link in an unexpected update.
  • Do not assume matching branding or your name in the message proves it is genuine.

You might also see

Medium risk Email

Fake Amazon Order Email

This scam emails a fake order confirmation for an expensive item, hoping you click a link or call a number to dispute a charge you never made.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Marketplace

Fake Shipping Label Scam

This scam targets sellers when a 'buyer' sends a prepaid shipping label or claims to have overpaid for shipping and asks for the difference back, or sends a fake label so the parcel is redirected. The underlying payment is usually fake or later reversed.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Order Cancellation Scam

After or even without a real purchase, you get an email or text saying there was a problem and your order was cancelled or needs payment re-confirmation. A link leads to a fake page built to capture your account login and card details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

How is this different from a courier text scam?
Courier-impersonation texts usually pose as a delivery company. This version copies the retailer's own order-tracking branding and flow, so it can look like a familiar shop you actually bought from, which makes it easier to trust by mistake.
It mentions a real order I placed. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. Scammers sometimes time messages around shopping events, and details can leak. The safest check is to view the order directly in the retailer's official app or site rather than trusting the message link.
Why would they only ask for a tiny fee?
A small charge feels low-risk and is designed to capture your card details on a convincing page. Once entered, those details can be misused for larger transactions, so even a tiny fee is worth treating with caution.
How can I check my order safely?
Go to the retailer's website or app yourself, log in there, and view your orders. Avoid clicking the tracking link in the message, since genuine order status is always visible in your own account.

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.