High riskRomance

Romance Gift Parcel Customs Scam

In this scam, an online partner says they have sent you an expensive gift or a parcel of money, but it is held in customs and needs fees, taxes, or bribes that you must pay, for a parcel that does not exist.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Romance + advance-fee (customs)
Main red flag
A partner's 'gift parcel' held in customs that needs fees you must pay.
What to do first
Do not pay customs fees for a partner's gift; the parcel is not real.

Understanding this scam

In this scam, an online partner says they have sent you an expensive gift or a parcel of money, but it is held in customs and needs fees, taxes, or bribes that you must pay, for a parcel that does not exist.

Romance scams build a genuine-feeling bond over days or weeks, then introduce a crisis or investment that needs your money. They rely on fast intimacy, an inability to meet in person, and requests that shift to gift cards or cryptocurrency.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A partner's 'gift parcel' held in customs that needs fees you must pay. Do not pay customs fees for a partner's gift; the parcel is not real.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Romance Scam DM or the Fake Customs Fee Text, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Romance & Dating Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'I've sent you a gift box with money and jewellery, but customs is holding it. Please pay the release fee and I'll repay you.'

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 partner's 'gift parcel' held in customs that needs fees you must pay.

What the data shows

$1B+
romance scams are among the costliest frauds by total reported losses in the US
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that began on social media in 2023, where many romance scams start
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • A partner sending an expensive gift or 'money parcel'
  • Customs fees, taxes, or bribes you must pay
  • A 'courier' or 'agent' contacting you for payment
  • Escalating fees to release the parcel
  • Avoidance of meeting in person

Your safest response

  • Do not pay any fees to release a partner's gift
  • Be aware the parcel and fees are fabricated
  • Ignore 'courier' or 'customs agent' demands
  • Report the profile and cease contact

If you have already engaged

  • Stop paying, especially 'one final' release fee
  • Contact your bank or payment provider about payments
  • Keep messages as evidence and report it
  • Seek support

What to avoid

  • Do not pay customs or release fees for a gift
  • Do not send money to a 'courier' or 'agent'
  • Do not believe escalating release demands

You might also see

High risk Social Media

Romance Scam DM

This scam builds an online romantic relationship through messages, then invents an emergency or investment to ask for money, while always avoiding meeting in person.

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
High risk Romance

Inheritance Romance Scam

In this scam, an online partner claims to have a large inheritance or fortune they will share with you, but needs your help paying fees, taxes, or transfer costs to unlock it, which never ends.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Is the gift parcel real?
No. The expensive gift or 'money parcel' does not exist. The customs fees, taxes, and 'agent' demands are the scam, and they escalate as long as you pay.
A courier or customs agent contacted me. Real?
These are part of the scam, working with the 'partner' to demand release fees. Genuine deliveries do not work this way.
I paid release fees. What now?
Stop paying, contact your bank or payment provider, keep evidence, report the profile, and seek support.
Why do they offer such generous gifts?
The promise of a valuable gift builds trust and justifies the 'customs fees' you are asked to pay. It is bait, not generosity.

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.