Delivery and Toll Road Scam Texts in Australia: Australia Post, StarTrack and Linkt Fakes
Two of the most common scam texts in Australia are fake parcel notices and fake toll bills. Delivery scams impersonate Australia Post, StarTrack, DHL or Aramex, claiming your parcel is on hold until you pay a small redelivery fee or update your address. Toll road scams impersonate Linkt, E-Toll or other toll operators, saying you have an unpaid toll plus a late fee. Both send you to fake payment pages that steal your card details — and sometimes your one-time passcode, which lets scammers add your card to their own digital wallet.
Real Scam Message Examples
These are real examples of messages used in this type of scam. If you receive something similar, do not click any links.
Example 1
“AusPost: Your parcel could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Please update your details and pay the $1.95 redelivery fee: auspost-redeliver.com”
Example 2
“Linkt: You have an unpaid toll of $4.87. To avoid a late fee of $42.00, please settle your balance today: linkt-tollpay.info”
Example 3
“E-Toll: Your vehicle has an outstanding toll notice. Pay now to avoid further penalties: etoll-nsw-payment.com”
Warning Signs of a Delivery or Toll Scam Text
- ⚠A text says your parcel is held and asks you to pay a small fee or confirm your address through a link
- ⚠A text says you have an unpaid toll with a late or 'administration' fee and must pay today
- ⚠The link isn't auspost.com.au, linkt.com.au or another official operator site
- ⚠The site asks for a one-time passcode sent to your phone to 'confirm' a tiny payment
- ⚠It arrives from a random or overseas number, or appears in an existing thread of genuine messages
How Does This Scam Work?
- 1Scammers send bulk SMS that spoof Australia Post, StarTrack or toll operators — sometimes landing in the same thread as real messages
- 2A small fee and short deadline push you to act quickly
- 3The fake site collects your name, address, date of birth and full card details
- 4You may be asked for a one-time code 'to verify the payment' — actually used to add your card to the scammer's Apple Pay or Google Pay
- 5Your card is used for large purchases, and your details are reused for follow-up bank impersonation calls
Legitimate vs Scam: How to Tell the Difference
| Aspect | ✓ Legitimate | ✗ Scam |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Post | Tracking and notifications via auspost.com.au or the AusPost app; missed deliveries leave a card | Text link asking for a redelivery fee or card details |
| Toll bills | Toll notices come via your Linkt/toll account or by mail, and you can check at the operator's official site | Text demanding immediate payment with a large 'late fee' |
| Passcodes | A one-time code is only for something you started on a real site | Asks you to enter or share a code to 'confirm' a small fee |
| Website | auspost.com.au, startrack.com.au, linkt.com.au | Lookalike domains with 'redeliver', 'tollpay' or 'payment' added |
What Should You Do?
- ✓Don't click the link. Check parcels in the AusPost app or at auspost.com.au, and check tolls by logging in to your toll account directly
- ✓Never share a one-time passcode sent to your phone with anyone or any site you reached from a text
- ✓Paste the suspicious message into ScamCheck for an instant verdict
- ✓If you entered card details or a passcode, call your bank immediately on the number on your card and ask them to block the card and any digital-wallet tokens
- ✓Report the text to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If money was taken, report via ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) and get free support from IDCARE on 1800 595 160
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Check it now — it's free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Australia Post send texts asking for payment?
Australia Post does send genuine delivery notifications, but it won't send you a text or email asking you to pay a redelivery fee or enter card details through a link. Check any parcel through the AusPost app or auspost.com.au.
Is the Linkt toll text real?
Linkt and other toll operators have repeatedly warned about fake toll texts. If you think you owe a toll, log in to your account on the official website or app yourself rather than using any link in a message.
Why do scam sites ask for a one-time passcode?
Scammers use the code to link your card to their own Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet, letting them spend on your card without the physical card. Never enter or share a code you didn't expect.
How do I report a scam text in Australia?
Report scam texts to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. If you lost money, contact your bank first, then report through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au. IDCARE (1800 595 160) provides free identity and cyber support.
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