Canada Post and delivery text scams
By the StoryCheck team · 5 min read · Published August 18, 2026
Delivery texts work because almost everyone is waiting for a parcel. The fake and the real one differ in three specific places, and once you know where to look the difference is obvious.
Look at the link
A genuine notice links to the courier's own domain. A fake uses a shortened link, or a domain that is almost right but not quite: an extra word, a hyphen, a different ending. The display text in a message can say anything, so read the address itself, not the words wrapping it.
Look at what it asks for
A real notice asks you to pick a delivery time or a pickup location. A fake asks for a small payment to release the parcel, or for card details, or for you to install an app. Real customs and duty charges on an import are collected at delivery or through the courier's own account system, not by text message with a countdown attached.
The Interac e-Transfer version runs the same way: a link, a login page that looks like your bank, and a transfer that then goes somewhere else. Complete transfers only inside your own banking app.
Look at the sender
Couriers send from a registered sender name or a consistent short code. A personal cell number sending you a delivery notice is not a courier. If you are unsure who the sending number belongs to, a reverse lookup will tell you whether it is a real cell, a VoIP line, or a number already associated with this pattern.
| Where to look | Genuine | Fake |
|---|---|---|
| The link | The courier's own domain | A shortened link or a near-identical lookalike domain |
| What it asks of you | Choose a delivery slot or pickup point | Pay a small fee, enter card details, or install an app |
| The sender | A registered sender name or consistent short code | A personal cell number |
| A payment request | Normally none at all | A small amount framed as customs or a redelivery fee |
| The wording | References a real tracking number | Generic, never says which parcel |
Common questions
I clicked the link. What now?
If you only opened the page, close it and do nothing further. If you entered card details, call your bank immediately and cancel the card. If you entered a banking login, change it and call your bank.
How do I check whether a parcel is real?
Go to the courier's website by typing the address yourself and enter the tracking number from your original order confirmation, never a number or link from the text message.
Where do I report a scam text in Canada?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. If you have lost money, call your bank first, then report it.
Related guides
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