How to spot and avoid fake postal delivery scams

Fake “missed delivery”, “redelivery” and “additional fee” texts and emails are one of the most common scams around. The safe rule is simple: if you are in any doubt, do not click. Check directly with the delivery company instead, and report suspected Royal Mail scams to Royal Mail.

Why these scams are so common

With more of us shopping online, online sales have grown – and unfortunately so has online fraud. That includes scam texts and emails about apparent “missed deliveries”, “additional fees for packages” and “redeliveries”. Many of these look genuine and sophisticated, which makes them hard to tell apart from real messages.

How to protect yourself

Royal Mail keeps a list of the latest known scams. If you receive a suspicious postal delivery text or email, do not click anything – report it to Royal Mail through their official scam reporting page. We are all used to genuine delivery notifications by text and email, so the temptation to tap a link is understandable, but clicking can allow malware onto your device and lead to personal details being stolen. When in doubt, contact the delivery service directly rather than using any link in the message.

FAQs

How do I spot a fake delivery text or email? Be wary of messages about ‘missed deliveries’, ‘redeliveries’ or ‘additional fees’. If in any doubt, do not click – check directly with the delivery company.

What should I do if I get one? Do not click any links. Report suspected Royal Mail scams to Royal Mail via their official reporting page.

Why are these scams dangerous? Clicking a malicious link can install malware and lead to your personal details being stolen.