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 An Post, DPD, Fastway or GLS 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, or a request to confirm your Eircode |
A real delivery company already has the address it is delivering to, so any message asking you to confirm your Eircode to release a parcel is collecting data, not delivering anything.
Common questions
Does An Post ask for customs fees by text?
Charges are not collected through a link in a text message. A text demanding a small urgent fee with a link is phishing.
I clicked the link, what now?
If you entered card details, ring your bank straight away on the number on your card and have it stopped. Then change your passwords and report it to the Gardaí.
Related guides
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