High riskDelivery

GLS Text Scam

This scam sends a fake GLS text about a held parcel, address problem, or small fee, linking to a page that harvests your card and personal information.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation (smishing)
Main red flag
An unexpected GLS text with a link to pay a fee or confirm delivery details.
What to do first
Do not click. Track parcels only through the official GLS website or app.

How this scam works

This scam sends a fake GLS text about a held parcel, address problem, or small fee, linking to a page that harvests your card and personal information.

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 GLS text with a link to pay a fee or confirm delivery details. Do not click. Track parcels only through the official GLS website or app.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the DHL Text Scam and the Fake Delivery Text Scam. 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 request to confirm address or pay a small fee via a link
  • A web address that is not the official GLS domain
  • Urgent wording about the parcel being returned or held
  • A request for card or personal details

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'GLS: Your parcel is on hold due to incomplete address details. Confirm your information 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 GLS text with a link to pay a fee or confirm delivery details.

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

  • Track parcels through the official GLS website or app
  • Report the scam text to GLS through official channels
  • Verify any genuine charge directly with the sender
  • 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
  • Monitor your statements for unexpected charges

Mistakes to avoid

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

Related scams to know

High risk Delivery

DHL Text Scam

This scam sends a fake DHL message about a held parcel or unpaid customs fee, pushing you to a phishing 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

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

Common questions

Does GLS ask for fees by text link?
Genuine redelivery is normally arranged free, and any real charge can be confirmed through the official GLS website. A fee demanded via a text link is a common scam pattern.
The text mentions my address. Is it genuine?
Scam texts use generic wording about address problems to seem real. Check tracking on the official app or site rather than the link.
How do I report it?
Report the message through GLS's official channels, forward it to your mobile provider's spam service if available, and delete it.
I entered my card details. What now?
Contact your bank right away to flag or freeze the card and watch for unexpected 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.