Parcel Delivery Scam Texts: Evri, Royal Mail, USPS and DHL (Real or Fake?)

Short answer: texts saying your Evri, Royal Mail, USPS or DHL parcel could not be delivered because of an "incomplete address" or an unpaid fee, with a link to fix it, are one of the most common scams in the UK and US. Do not click. Check your parcel by typing the courier's official website or opening its app yourself, and forward the scam text to 7726.

How the delivery scam text works

The message claims a delivery failed and asks you to "update your address", "reschedule" or pay a small redelivery or customs fee. The link leads to a fake courier page that asks for your card details. The small fee is a hook: the goal is your full card details, and often a follow-up call from a fake "bank fraud team" asking you to move money.

Signs the text is fake

• You were not expecting a parcel, or did not sign up for text updates from that courier.
• The link is not the courier's real website, or is shortened or misspelled.
• It asks for a payment, your card details or your bank login.
• It creates urgency: "your parcel will be returned today".
• It comes from a normal mobile number or an email address rather than the courier's usual sender name.

Evri scam texts

Common versions say "Evri: we missed you", "your parcel has an incomplete address" or "a redelivery fee is due". Check the real status by opening the Evri app or typing Evri's website address yourself and entering your tracking number from the shop's confirmation email.

Royal Mail scam texts

Royal Mail scam texts often ask you to pay a fee for a parcel "on hold". If a real fee is due, you will be able to see it by going to Royal Mail's website yourself, not through a link in an unexpected text.

USPS scam texts

The US Postal Inspection Service warns that if you did not request tracking for a package, you should not click the link. Report USPS-related scam texts by emailing a screenshot (showing the sender and date) and the message text to spam@uspis.gov.

How to report a scam text

• UK and US: forward the text to 7726 (it spells "SPAM"). It is free, and your network can block the sender.
• UK emails: forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
• USPS: email spam@uspis.gov.
• Lost money: in the UK report to Action Fraud; in the US report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Do not reply, even to say "STOP": replying confirms your number is active.

Clicked the link or entered your card details?

1. Call your bank on the number on your card and cancel the card.
2. Watch for follow-up calls from a "bank fraud team" or "police" asking you to move money to a "safe account". That is always a scam.
3. If you entered a password, change it on the real website and turn on two-step verification.

Lost money? Read how to get money back after a scam.