High riskDelivery

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Delivery impersonation scam
Main red flag
A text claiming a parcel is held until you pay a small unpaid fee through a link.
What to do first
Do not click the link. Check any item through the official Royal Mail website or app using your tracking number.

What this scam usually looks like

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.

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 single clearest warning sign to remember is this: A text claiming a parcel is held until you pay a small unpaid fee through a link. Do not click the link. Check any item through the official Royal Mail website or app using your tracking number.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Evri Text Scam or the Fake Customs Fee Text, browse the Delivery & Postal Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

#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

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Royal Mail: Your parcel is being held due to an unpaid shipping fee of £2.99. Pay now to arrange redelivery: [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.

Why this is a red flag: A text claiming a parcel is held until you pay a small unpaid fee through a link.

Red flags to watch for

  • An unexpected text about a parcel you may not be expecting
  • A small 'unpaid fee' or customs charge demanded to release the item
  • A link that does not lead to the official royalmail.com domain
  • Urgent warnings that the parcel will be returned or destroyed
  • A request for your card and personal details to reschedule delivery

What to do

  • Do not click the link or enter any card details
  • Check the tracking number directly on the official Royal Mail website or app
  • Forward the text to your mobile provider's spam reporting service if available
  • Delete the message and block the sender

If you already clicked or replied

  • Do not enter any more information on the page
  • If you entered card details, contact your bank straight away to flag or freeze the card
  • Change the password for any account where you reused that login
  • Watch your statements for unexpected or recurring charges

What not to do

  • Do not reply to the message
  • Do not share verification codes from your bank
  • Do not download any app the link suggests

Similar scams

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

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 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

Frequently asked questions

Does Royal Mail ask for fees by text with a link?
When a genuine fee is due, Royal Mail normally leaves a card or notice and lets you pay through its official channels. A small fee demanded through a text link is a common scam pattern.
I am expecting a parcel, so could the text be real?
Scammers rely on this. Even when you are expecting something, check the tracking number on the official site rather than using any link in the text.
What if I already paid the fee?
Contact your bank right away to report the payment and protect your card. Acting quickly makes it more likely the charge can be stopped or disputed.
How do I report a Royal Mail text scam?
You can report it to your mobile provider, to Royal Mail through its official scam reporting page, and to your national fraud reporting service.

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.