Spotting a fake delivery text
By the StoryCheck team · 5 min read · Published 16 August 2026
This one works because it nearly always arrives at a plausible moment: most people are waiting for something. So the deciding question is not whether the message sounds credible, but whether money is being asked for at all.
Real against fake
| What to check | Genuine | Fake |
|---|---|---|
| Request for payment | None. Customs charges are handled through official channels | A small, urgent fee through a link |
| The link | Official Royal Mail, Evri, DPD or Yodel domain | A shortened link or a domain that merely resembles it |
| Tracking number | Matches an order you actually placed | Generic, or you have no order at all |
| Urgency | None | The parcel will be returned within 24 hours |
| How you are addressed | By name, with an order number | A generic greeting with no name |
Check tracking only in the official app or by typing the address in yourself, never through the link in the message. Then forward the text to 7726, which is free on every UK network and helps get the sending number blocked.
Common questions
Does Royal Mail ask for fees by text?
Customs charges are not collected through a link in a text message. A text demanding a small urgent fee with a link is phishing.
What is 7726?
The free UK shortcode for reporting scam texts. Forward the message to 7726 and your network can investigate and block the sender.
I clicked the link, what now?
If you entered card details, ring your bank on 159 straight away and have the card stopped. Then change your passwords and report it to Action Fraud.
Related guides
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