You know that feeling when your phone buzzes with a delivery notification and you think “Oh yeah, I probably did order something”? That moment of uncertainty is exactly what scammers are counting on. They’re not trying to fool you with elaborate stories – they’re just betting that most of us have genuinely forgotten what we’ve ordered online.
And let’s be honest, they’re often right. Between Amazon, next-day deliveries, and that impulse purchase you made at 2am, it’s hard to keep track of what’s actually coming when.
The scammers know this, which is why fake delivery texts have become one of the most common scams around. They send thousands of messages about “missed deliveries” and “small redelivery fees,” knowing that some people will click without thinking too hard about it.
How these scams actually work
The message looks like it’s from Royal Mail, DPD, or another delivery company you recognise. It says something like “We tried to deliver your parcel but you weren’t in – pay £1.99 to reschedule.” There’s a link that takes you to what looks exactly like the real company’s website, complete with the right colours and logos.
You enter your card details to pay the small fee, thinking you’re just sorting out a delivery problem. But instead of rescheduling your parcel, you’ve just given criminals access to your payment information. They can use this to steal money from your account or sell your details to other fraudsters.
The really sneaky part is that they choose small amounts like £1.99 or £2.50 because these seem reasonable for a redelivery fee. Most people won’t think twice about paying a couple of pounds to get their package delivered, especially when they’re busy or distracted.
Simple ways to spot the fakes
Real delivery companies are quite good at giving you specific information, while fake messages have tell-tale signs:
Legitimate delivery notifications usually include:
- Specific time of delivery attempt
- Proper tracking reference numbers
- Messages from recognisable short codes (not random mobile numbers)
- Clear details about where calling cards were left
Fake messages are often vague:
- Say “your package” instead of giving tracking references
- Mention delivery attempts without specific times or locations
- Come from random mobile phone numbers
- Ask for payments that seem small but unnecessary
The biggest giveaway is often the web address. Even if the page looks identical to the real Royal Mail or DPD website, check the address bar at the top of your browser. Scammers often use similar-looking addresses like “royalmaill.co.uk” (notice the extra ‘l’) or completely different web addresses that they hope you won’t notice.
Another simple check is to think about whether you’re actually expecting anything to be delivered. If you can’t remember ordering something recently, there’s a good chance the message is fake.
What to do instead of clicking
If you get a message about a missed delivery, the safest approach is:
- Don’t click the link in the suspicious message
- Go directly to the delivery company’s real website by searching on Google
- Use their tracking tool with the tracking number from your original purchase confirmation
- Contact the retailer if you’re genuinely expecting something and can’t find tracking information
If you’re genuinely expecting a delivery:
Check the email confirmation you received when you made your purchase – this will have the real tracking details and expected delivery timeframe. If something seems wrong, contact the shop where you bought the item directly rather than following links in suspicious messages.
Don’t engage with obvious scams
You might be tempted to reply to scam texts or call the numbers they provide to give them a piece of your mind, but this actually makes things worse for you. Responding to scam messages confirms that your phone number is active, which means you’ll probably receive even more scam attempts in the future.
The best thing to do with suspicious messages is delete them and, if you want to, report them. You can forward scam texts to 7726 (which spells SPAM on your keypad) to help phone networks block these messages for other people.
If you’ve already fallen for one
If you’ve already entered your card details on a suspicious website, don’t panic, but do act quickly:
Immediate steps:
- Contact your bank straight away – they can monitor your account and may need to cancel your current card
- Report the scam to Action Fraud – online at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040
- Forward the scam text to 7726 (spells SPAM) to help phone networks block similar messages
Ongoing protection:
- Check your bank statements carefully over the next few months
- Look out for any unauthorised payments, however small
- Contact your bank immediately if you spot anything suspicious
Why these scams are so common
The reason you see so many of these fake delivery messages is that they’re relatively easy for criminals to set up and they don’t need much information about you personally. They can send the same message to thousands of phone numbers and know that some people will be expecting deliveries and might click without checking carefully.
Online shopping has made these scams more believable because most of us genuinely are expecting packages fairly regularly. The criminals don’t need to know what you’ve ordered or when – they just need to catch you at a moment when you’re not thinking carefully about whether the message is real.
Keep yourself protected
The main thing to remember is that legitimate delivery companies make money by successfully delivering your packages, not by creating complicated payment processes or charging unexpected fees. If something about a delivery notification feels unnecessarily difficult or urgent, that’s often a sign that something isn’t right.
Most genuine delivery problems can be sorted out easily by contacting the retailer where you made your purchase, or by visiting the delivery company’s real website. You shouldn’t need to provide card details or personal information beyond what the delivery company already has from the retailer.
Trust your instincts – if something feels off about a message, it probably is. It’s always safer to double-check independently rather than clicking links from unexpected texts, even when you think you might be expecting a delivery.
The scammers are relying on you being busy, distracted, or unsure about what you’ve ordered. But taking just a minute or two to verify suspicious messages can save you a lot of hassle and protect your personal information from criminals.
