Scam library
Missed delivery scams: how to spot them
A missed delivery, a small fee, and a link to sort it out.
Short answer
A delivery scam claims a parcel couldn't be delivered and asks for a small fee or your details to rebook it, so it can steal card numbers.
How it works
Everyone gets parcels, at home and at work, so "we couldn't deliver your package" always feels possible.
The message says there's a problem: a missed delivery, unpaid customs, or an address to confirm. Fixing it costs a dollar or two, and there's a link to pay.
The small fee is bait. What they want is your card number, which they'll use for much bigger charges. Some versions ask you to sign in or download a tracking app, which is just as bad.
Red flags
- A small payment to release or redeliver a parcel.
- No tracking number, or none that matches anything you ordered.
- A link to an address that isn't the courier's real website.
- A text from a number you don't know.
What to do
Don't use the link. Go to the courier or store website yourself and enter the tracking number from your order confirmation.
This page is taken from the 2 minute NetMinder lesson staff see straight after clicking a practice email about this scam.