High riskDelivery

PostNL Text Scam

This scam sends a fake PostNL text about a missed delivery, address issue, 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 PostNL text asking you to pay a fee or confirm details via a link.
What to do first
Do not click. Check any delivery through PostNL's official website or app.

How this scam works

This scam sends a fake PostNL text about a missed delivery, address issue, 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 PostNL text asking you to pay a fee or confirm details via a link. Do not click. Check any delivery through PostNL's official website or app.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the GLS Text Scam and the DHL 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 small redelivery or 'fee' request
  • A link that is not the official postnl.nl 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: 'PostNL: Your parcel could not be delivered due to unpaid shipping costs. Pay here 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 gives it away: An unexpected PostNL 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 directly on PostNL's official website or app
  • Report the scam text to PostNL 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

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.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
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

Common questions

Does PostNL charge fees by text link?
Genuine redelivery is normally free, and any real charge can be confirmed through PostNL's official website. 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 PostNL scam text?
Report it through PostNL'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.