Delivery Scam Texts in the UK: Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and Yodel Fakes
Fake parcel texts are among the most common scam messages in the UK. They claim Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, Yodel or ParcelForce couldn't deliver your parcel and ask you to pay a small 'redelivery' or 'shipping fee' — usually £1 to £3 — through a link. Because so many people are genuinely waiting for parcels, the text feels believable. The small fee isn't the goal: the fake site captures your full card details, which are then used for larger payments or to set up a convincing 'bank fraud team' follow-up call.
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
“Royal Mail: Your parcel has a £1.99 unpaid shipping fee. To avoid it being returned, please pay here: royalmail-reschedule-uk.com”
Example 2
“Evri: We missed you today. Your parcel is being held at our depot. Rebook your delivery within 12hrs: evri-redelivery.co/track”
Example 3
“DPD: Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update your details now: dpd-uk-support.info”
Warning Signs of a Delivery Scam Text
- ⚠The text asks you to pay a small fee (e.g. £1.45) to 'reschedule' or 'release' a parcel
- ⚠The link is not on the courier's official domain — e.g. royalmail-redelivery.com or evri-parcel-help.info
- ⚠It says your parcel will be 'returned to sender' within hours unless you act
- ⚠It comes from a random mobile number or a foreign number, not a named sender
- ⚠You weren't expecting a parcel, or the text has no tracking number that matches any order
How Does This Scam Work?
- 1Scammers send mass texts that impersonate a UK courier, relying on the fact that many people are expecting a parcel
- 2The link opens a copy of the courier's tracking page asking you to confirm your address and pay a small fee
- 3The form collects your name, date of birth, address and full card details including the security code
- 4Criminals use the card directly, or sell the data
- 5A few days later a fake 'bank fraud department' calls, quoting your details, to trick you into moving money to a 'safe account'
Legitimate vs Scam: How to Tell the Difference
| Aspect | ✓ Legitimate | ✗ Scam |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | Royal Mail leaves a grey 'Fee to Pay' card for genuine customs or postage charges, payable on its official site | A text link demanding a small 'redelivery' or 'unpaid shipping' fee |
| Website | royalmail.com, evri.com, dpd.co.uk or the retailer's own app | Look-alike domains with extra words like 'redelivery', 'support' or 'reschedule' |
| Tracking | Messages match a tracking number from a real order you placed | Generic message with no matching tracking number |
| Redelivery | Missed deliveries can usually be rearranged for free | You must pay to 'release' or 'rebook' the parcel |
What Should You Do?
- ✓Don't click the link — check your parcel by typing the courier's website yourself or using the retailer's order page
- ✓Forward the text to 7726 (free on UK networks), then delete it
- ✓Paste the suspicious message into ScamCheck for an instant verdict
- ✓If you entered card details, call your bank on the number on your card (or 159) and cancel the card immediately
- ✓Be suspicious of any 'bank' call in the following days — hang up and call back on a number you trust. Report losses to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040)
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Check it now — it's free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Royal Mail send texts asking for payment?
Royal Mail says that if a fee is genuinely due, it will leave a grey 'Fee to Pay' card and you pay on its official website. Texts or emails asking you to pay a redelivery fee through a link are scams.
Is the Evri text I got real?
Evri does send genuine delivery updates, but they relate to parcels you've ordered and don't ask for a fee to rebook. If the text asks for payment or personal details, or the link isn't on evri.com, treat it as a scam.
What is 7726 and how do I use it?
7726 (it spells SPAM on a keypad) is the free UK service for reporting scam texts to your mobile network. Forward the scam text to 7726; you'll usually be asked to reply with the sender's number.
I paid £1.99 on a fake delivery site — what should I do?
Call your bank immediately and cancel the card, even though the amount was small — the real risk is the card details you entered. Watch for follow-up calls pretending to be your bank's fraud team, and report to Action Fraud.
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