Royal Mail Scam: Fake Missed Delivery and Redelivery Fee Texts

A Royal Mail scam is a fake text, email or call that claims a parcel couldn’t be delivered and asks you to pay a small fee to rebook delivery, settle “unpaid postage” or update your address. The link leads to a copy of Royal Mail’s website built to steal your card details. Don’t click: forward texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, and check any parcel by typing Royal Mail’s official website address yourself or using its official app.

These messages work because almost everyone is waiting for something, and the fee is small enough that paying it feels easier than checking. That’s the point. The fee isn’t the real target; your full card details and security codes are. If you’ve already entered them, you’re far from alone, and there are clear steps to limit the damage.

How the Royal Mail scam works

Most versions follow the same pattern. A text or email arrives that looks like a delivery notice. It says a parcel is on hold, a delivery was missed, or a small amount of postage is outstanding. There’s a link and a deadline, often “today” or “within 48 hours”, after which the parcel will supposedly be returned.

The link opens a convincing page with Royal Mail’s colors and logo. It asks for your name, address, date of birth and phone number, then card details to pay the fee. Some versions then show a fake bank verification screen asking for a one-time passcode. Whatever you enter goes to the scammers, who may use it straight away or sell it on.

A few days later, many people get a follow-up call from someone claiming to be their bank’s fraud team, who says the card has been compromised and money needs to move to a “safe account”. That call is part of the same scam. Our guides to smishing and package delivery scams explain the wider pattern, and if you’re in the US, see our guide to the USPS text scam. Scammers copy other UK couriers the same way, as our guides to the Evri scam and the DPD scam show.

Common versions of the Royal Mail scam

Version	What it says
Missed delivery text	“We attempted to deliver your parcel” with a link to rebook, sometimes with a small redelivery fee.
Unpaid postage or shipping fee	Your parcel is held because the sender didn’t pay enough postage, and you must pay the difference.
Customs or import charge	A fee is due on a parcel from abroad before it can be released.
Address problem	The address is “incomplete” and you must confirm your details through a link.
Fake delivery card	A printed card through your door with a phone number or web address that isn’t Royal Mail’s.
Premium-rate call	A voicemail or card asks you to call a number about a parcel, which may be premium rate or lead to a scammer.

Some of these copy real things. Royal Mail does leave cards when it can’t deliver, and customs charges on items from abroad are real. That’s why the rule isn’t “ignore everything” but “check it yourself on the official site or app”.

Warning signs of a fake Royal Mail message

• A link in a text. Look closely at the web address. Scam sites use look-alike domains with extra words, odd spellings or unusual endings.
• A small fee with a tight deadline. Low amounts are designed to feel too minor to question.
• No tracking number, or one that doesn’t work when you enter it on Royal Mail’s real site.
• You’re not expecting anything, or the message doesn’t mention a sender or retailer.
• Requests for your date of birth or a one-time passcode just to pay postage.
• A message from a personal mobile number or an unfamiliar email address.
• Pressure to act before the parcel is “returned to sender”.

What to do if you got the text but didn’t click

1. Don’t tap the link or reply, not even “STOP”. Replying confirms your number is active.
2. Forward the text to 7726. This free service reports it to your mobile provider so similar messages can be blocked.
3. Check any parcel you’re expecting through the official Royal Mail site or app, or the retailer’s own order page.
4. Delete the message once you’ve reported it.

What to do right now if you clicked or paid

1. Call your bank or card provider straight away, using the number on the back of your card or in your banking app. Say you entered your card details on a scam site. They can block the card and watch for fraudulent payments.
2. Don’t trust follow-up “bank” calls. If someone calls saying they’re from your bank’s fraud team, hang up and call your bank back on the number on your card, ideally from a different phone.
3. Never move money to a “safe account”. No genuine bank will ask you to do this.
4. If you only entered personal details, expect more convincing scam messages that use them. Be extra careful with calls and texts for a while.
5. If you shared a password, change it and turn on two-step verification. Our guide on what to do if your bank account is hacked covers the next steps.
6. Save screenshots of the text, the web page address and any payment confirmation.

Where to report a Royal Mail scam

• Texts: forward them to 7726.
• Emails: forward them to report@phishing.gov.uk, run by the National Cyber Security Centre, which can take down scam websites.
• Royal Mail: its official website has a page on scams and explains how to tell it about fake messages. Reach it by typing the address yourself.
• Report Fraud: if you lost money or shared card or bank details, report to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud), the national reporting service for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, online at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. Our guide on how to report to Report Fraud covers what to have ready. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101.
• Citizens Advice: you can also report a scam to the Citizens Advice consumer service, which shares reports with Trading Standards.

For every reporting route in one place, see our guide on how to report a scammer.

Will you get your money back?

Often, if you paid by card and tell your bank quickly. A payment you didn’t knowingly authorize, or one made to a fraudulent site, can usually be investigated and in many cases refunded by your card provider. Losses from a follow-up “safe account” transfer are different: UK rules introduced in 2024 require most banks and payment firms to reimburse many victims of authorized push payment scams, with some exceptions, so report it to your bank as soon as possible.

If your bank refuses, complain to it formally, then take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. Ignore anyone who offers to recover your money for a fee. These offers are almost always recovery scams.

A worked example

This is an illustrative scenario, not a real case. Tom orders a birthday present online and, two days later, gets a text: “Royal Mail: your parcel is on hold due to an unpaid shipping fee. Pay now to avoid return.” The link opens a page that looks right, and the fee is less than the price of a coffee.

1. Tom enters his name, address and card details. The page then asks for a passcode sent by his bank, which feels odd for a postage fee.
2. He stops, opens his email, and finds the retailer’s order confirmation. The tracking link there shows the parcel is in transit with no fee due.
3. He calls his bank using the number on the back of his card. The bank cancels the card and flags his account.
4. The next day, someone calls claiming to be from his bank, saying his account is at risk. Tom hangs up and calls the bank back on the number on his new card. The bank confirms it didn’t call.
5. He forwards the original text to 7726 and reports what happened to Report Fraud.

Tom’s parcel arrived as normal. Acting within minutes, and refusing the follow-up call, kept the damage to a replaced card.

How to protect yourself next time

• Track every parcel from the retailer’s confirmation or the official Royal Mail site or app, never from a text link.
• Turn on spam filtering for texts on your phone.
• Use a credit card or a digital wallet for online shopping where you can, and switch on payment alerts in your banking app.
• Keep a note of what you’ve ordered. A delivery message for something you don’t recognize is a strong warning sign.
• Talk to relatives, especially anyone who shops online but isn’t used to spotting scam texts.

Small businesses can be impersonated too. If scammers are using your shop’s name in fake delivery texts and angry customers are posting about it, our personal reputation management team can help you see what’s showing up in search and what can be corrected.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Paying “just in case”. The fee isn’t the goal; your card details are.
• Replying to the text. It confirms your number is live and invites more scams.
• Trusting a follow-up call because it mentions the fee. The scammers already know what you entered.
• Checking the parcel through the link to see if it’s real. Use the official site or app instead.
• Waiting to tell your bank. Every hour gives scammers more time to use the card.

Frequently asked questions

Does Royal Mail send texts about missed deliveries?

Royal Mail can send delivery updates, and it leaves a card when it can’t deliver. But scammers copy both. Don’t use a link in a text; check your parcel on Royal Mail’s official website or app, using the tracking number from your retailer.

Is a Royal Mail redelivery fee text a scam?

A text asking you to pay a small redelivery or postage fee through a link is a common scam pattern. Check your parcel through the official site or app instead. If a genuine fee is due, you’ll be able to see it there.

What if I entered my card details on a fake Royal Mail site?

Call your bank straight away using the number on your card and ask it to block the card. Be suspicious of any follow-up call claiming to be your bank, and report the scam to Report Fraud, or Police Scotland if you’re in Scotland.

How do I report a Royal Mail scam text?

Forward the text to 7726, which is free and reports it to your mobile provider. Forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you lost money, also report to Report Fraud.