Likely confidenceCurrent
Parcel-Fee Text Campaigns Persist
Text messages claiming a small delivery fee is due continue to be reported across many countries.
Published 10 February 2025
- Threat category
- Smishing
- Location
- Global
- Affected population
- Online shoppers
What we are seeing
Campaigns that imitate delivery firms send text messages claiming a parcel is held and a small fee is required. The low amount is designed to make compliance feel trivial.
Why it matters
The small fee is the hook. The linked page collects card or login details. Delivery firms do not request payment through links in unsolicited texts.
Defensive takeaway
- Track parcels only through the carrier's official app or website.
- Never enter card details after tapping a link in a text message.
- Report and delete the message rather than replying.
Unverified social-media claims are never presented as fact. Confidence labels reflect how well a claim is corroborated, not how alarming it sounds.
Source
Verified factGOVERNMENT
Guidance on phishing and social engineering
UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) · 10 Jun 2024
View source