One of the most common scams worldwide: an SMS or WhatsApp impersonating a delivery company (USPS, DHL, Royal Mail and others) claiming a package is waiting or a small customs fee is due, with a payment link. The goal is to steal your card details. Real couriers don't collect customs fees via an SMS link.
A message like: 'Your parcel is held. Pay a $1-3 customs fee to release it: bit.ly/xxx'. The tiny amount is deliberate — once you enter card details, they are stolen.
• A shortened or odd link instead of the courier's official domain • Urgency: 'package returned within 24 hours' • A small, strange fee • A request to enter card details via the link
1. Don't click. 2. Go directly to the courier's official site or app. 3. If you already entered details, call your bank to block the card. 4. When in doubt, paste the message into the free checker below.
No. Customs and delivery fees are handled on the official site or app, never through a link in a text.
The small amount is the trick — it lowers your suspicion. They're after your card details, not the fee.