Royal Mail delivery text scam
A fake Royal Mail text says your parcel is held until you pay a small redelivery or customs fee, linking to a convincing but fake payment page.
“Royal Mail: Your parcel is awaiting redelivery. A £1.45 fee is required: http://royalmail-redelivery-secure.com/pay”
How it works
Scammers send a mass text impersonating Royal Mail claiming a delivery failed or a tiny fee (often around £1–£3) is due. The link leads to a lookalike site that harvests your card details and personal information. The small fee makes it feel low-risk, but the real goal is your full card and banking details.
Warning signs
- An unexpected text about a parcel you weren't expecting
- A small, oddly specific fee to 'release' the delivery
- A link to a domain that isn't royalmail.com (e.g. royalmail-redelivery.com)
- Pressure to pay quickly or the parcel will be returned
- Requests for card details, date of birth, or address via the link
What to do
- Don't tap the link or enter any details
- Check tracking only at royalmail.com or in the official app
- Forward the text to 7726 (free spam reporting) then delete it
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
- Does Royal Mail ever charge fees by text?
- Royal Mail will leave a 'Something for You' card or use the official app for genuine fees such as customs charges. It does not send payment links by text demanding a small fee to release a parcel.
- I paid the fee — what should I do?
- Contact your bank right away to stop the payment and protect your card, change any reused passwords, and watch for further suspicious activity. Report it to Action Fraud.