Fake Delivery Texts: How to Spot Them and What to Do
“Your parcel is on hold, pay €1.99 in delivery fees”. This kind of message, sent out in bulk, aims to get you to click on a fake site to harvest your bank details. Here's how to recognize it and what to do if you've already clicked.
Key takeaways
- Don't click the link in the text.
- Go through the carrier's official website or app.
- If you entered your card details: block it immediately with your bank.
- Keep screenshots as evidence.
- Report the message (in France: 33700).
How the trap works
The message arrives by text or email, often just when you really are waiting for a parcel. It invites you to click a link to “reschedule the delivery” or pay a small fee. The link leads to a fake site imitating a carrier or La Poste and asks for your card number, and then often for a validation code received by text. With this information, fraudsters can charge your card for much larger amounts.
The signs that should alert you
- A shortened link or a domain name that looks like the carrier's without really being it.
- No specific parcel reference, and no sender name.
- A request to pay a few euros to deliver a parcel: real carriers only rarely ask for payment this way.
- A tone of urgency: “final notice”, “parcel returned within 24 h”.
- An unknown sender number, or a message that arrives when you aren't expecting anything.
Never click the link in the message. Go straight to the carrier's official website or app, and enter your tracking number yourself.
What to do if you clicked without entering anything
Close the page. There's normally no consequence if you didn't enter any information, but don't reply to the message, and delete it. Keep an eye on your phone and your accounts for a few days.
What to do if you entered banking details
- Call your bank immediately to block the card. You get a registration number that proves your request.
- Check your statements and dispute any transaction you didn't make.
- Change the password of any account whose access you gave away.
- Report the fraud to the authorities (in France: the Perceval platform or filing a police complaint).
In France, a fraudulent transaction must be refunded by the bank, in principle immediately and at the latest by the end of the first business day after you dispute it, within a limit of 13 months. Keep all the evidence: screenshots of the text, the statement, the block reference number.
Where to report these messages
- In France: forward the text to 33700 (free) or report it on 33700.fr.
- For emails: the Signal Spam platform.
- For a scam: the Pharos platform (internet-signalement.gouv.fr), or the free Info Escroqueries number, 0805 805 817.
- In another country: look for the equivalent national organization, the consumer protection authority or the police.
Reporting isn't pointless: every report helps get fraudulent numbers and sites blocked, and protects the next people targeted.
Frequently asked questions
Can a real carrier ask me to pay fees by text message?
It's rare. If in doubt, don't click: open the carrier's official app or website and use your tracking number to see whether a payment is really being requested.
I'm not expecting a parcel but the message is very convincing. What should I do?
Ignore it and report it. Fraudsters send messages in bulk, without knowing whether you're waiting for anything.
Can I check a suspicious link with Scan Raccoon?
You can check a company's website or a number in the “Company / Website” or “Email / Phone” mode. But the safest course is still not to click and to go through the official website.