Fake Delivery Texts: How to Check Before You Pay

A text saying your parcel is delayed, your address is incomplete or a fee is due may be fake. Before you pay or share information, check the delivery through a channel you find yourself: use the tracking details from your order, open the delivery company’s official app or website directly, or contact the retailer. Do not rely on the link or contact details in an unexpected text. A real delivery company or postal service may be impersonated in these messages; that does not mean the organization itself is behind the text.

How fake delivery texts work

The message usually creates a reason for you to act quickly. It may claim that a parcel cannot be delivered until you pay a fee, correct your address or arrange another delivery attempt. It may also say a package is being held or that you need to confirm information. The message often includes a link and may warn that you have only a short time to respond.

If you tap the link, you may be taken to a page designed to look like a delivery service’s website. The page might ask for personal details, card information or a small payment. Even a low fee can be a way to collect financial information. A page may also ask you to sign in or provide a security code. Treat requests for banking passwords or one-time codes as especially serious: do not enter them on a page reached from an unexpected message.

Scammers may use information you provide to try to make further purchases, access accounts or contact you again. A message can arrive when you are expecting a parcel by coincidence, or it may be sent even when you have not ordered anything. Seeing a familiar company name in the sender field is not proof that the message came from that company; sender details can be made to look convincing.

Common delivery-text variations in Canada

The wording and story can change. A text might say that a parcel needs an address correction, that a delivery attempt failed, or that you must pay a charge before an item can be released. Some messages refer to customs or import charges. Others ask you to choose a new delivery time or confirm that you are home. These are different ways to prompt you to follow a link or provide information.

The message may refer to a postal service, courier or retailer, and it may use a name or visual design familiar to you. The organization being imitated is not responsible for a fraudulent message simply because its name appears in it. If you are unsure whether a charge or delivery notice is genuine, verify it independently with the relevant service or the seller. Do not use a phone number, link or reply option provided in the questionable text to do that check.

Some people receive these messages when they are waiting for a parcel, which can make the request feel believable. That timing alone does not confirm the message is real. Check whether the tracking information matches the order you placed and whether the notice appears in the account or app you normally use. If there is no parcel you recognize, do not follow the link to find out more.

Red flags to watch for

• An unexpected fee: The text asks you to pay to release, redirect or deliver a parcel, but you do not recognize the order or cannot verify the charge independently.
• A link that asks you to act: It directs you to a payment page, sign-in page or form instead of asking you to check through an account or tracking service you already know.
• Pressure or a threat: The message says you must act immediately or risk losing the parcel. Urgency is a reason to pause, not a reason to skip verification.
• Requests for sensitive information: It asks for a card security code, banking password, account password or one-time security code.
• Unexpected personal details: It asks you to provide an address, phone number or other information even though the sender has not been verified.
• A sender name that seems familiar but does not settle the question: A displayed name or logo can be copied or misleading. Do not treat it as proof of authenticity.
• Details that do not match your order: The delivery story, tracking information or parcel details differ from what the retailer or delivery service shows when you check independently.
• A message you were not expecting: You are not waiting for a delivery, or you cannot connect the notice to an order. Do not tap a link just to investigate.

How to check safely before paying

Start from information you already trust. If you bought something online, open the retailer’s app or type its known web address into your browser yourself. Check the order status and any tracking number shown there. You can also use the delivery company’s official app or website by opening it independently, rather than tapping the text’s link. If you do not know which service is handling the parcel, ask the retailer through its usual customer-service channel.

Compare the notice with the order details, but remember that a tracking number or parcel information can be copied into a misleading message. The safest check is whether the same notice or charge appears in the official account or is confirmed through a contact method you found independently. If you cannot confirm it, do not pay through the text. Take time to contact the seller or delivery service using details on its official site, in its app or on your order confirmation.

Avoid replying to an unexpected text, even to ask whether it is real. Do not call a number in the message or provide information through a page it opens. If you are worried that a parcel might be delayed, use the seller’s or delivery service’s verified tracking tools. If a fee is legitimate, you should be able to confirm the reason and the payment process through an independent official channel before entering any details.

You can also reduce the chance of being caught off guard by keeping order confirmations and tracking details in a place you can check. Use strong, unique passwords for shopping and email accounts, and turn on multi-factor authentication where available. These steps do not prove whether a particular text is real, but they can help protect accounts if someone tries to reuse information or credentials you have shared elsewhere.

What to do if you clicked, replied or paid

1. Stop interacting with the message. Do not send more information, pay another fee or provide a security code. Close the page and do not use its contact details.
2. If you entered card or banking information, contact your bank promptly. Use the number on your bank card or the bank’s official app or website. Explain what you shared and follow its instructions about blocking a card, changing access details or reviewing transactions. If money was sent, tell the bank how and when it happened.
3. Change any password you entered. Go directly to the real service, not through the text, and change that password. If you reused it on other accounts, change it there too. Contact the service through its official support channel if you cannot access the account.
4. Watch for follow-up attempts. Be cautious of calls or messages claiming they can recover money, fix your account or arrange delivery if you pay or share another code. Verify any new contact independently.
5. Keep useful records. Save the message, sender details, web address if visible, receipts and any bank notifications. Do not forward the link to others. These records may help your bank, local police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre understand what happened.
6. If you downloaded a file or app, do not open it again. Remove it if you know how, run a security check using trusted software and seek help from a reputable technical support provider if you are unsure what was installed. If you entered account details, change them from a different trusted device where possible.
7. Tell someone you trust if you need help. Acting quickly can be stressful. A family member, friend or local support service can help you contact your bank, review account activity and make reports.

How to report a fake delivery text in Canada

Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. Reporting can help authorities identify patterns, even if you did not lose money. You can also report the message as junk or spam through your phone’s messaging service or mobile provider.

Contact your local police if you have lost money, had an account accessed or experienced another suspected crime. If your money or banking details were involved, contact your bank as soon as possible using a verified number or its official app. Keep copies of the message and related records, and follow the instructions each organization gives you. Do not pay anyone who unexpectedly promises to recover your money in exchange for a fee.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am expecting a parcel?

Check the order and tracking details through the retailer or delivery service using its official app or a web address you enter yourself. A message arriving while you expect a parcel is not enough to prove it is genuine. Confirm any claimed fee or delivery problem independently before taking action.

Can I get scammed just by opening a text?

Receiving or reading a text does not by itself mean your account or device has been compromised. The greater risks usually arise when you follow a link, enter information, download something or make a payment. If you only opened the message, do not tap the link; delete or report it and continue to verify any real order through official channels.

Should I pay a delivery fee shown in a text?

Do not pay through an unexpected text link. First check the charge with the retailer or delivery service using contact details or an account you access independently. If you cannot confirm that the fee is genuine, do not enter payment details.

What if I only entered my address or phone number?

Stop responding and be alert for more messages or calls that use those details to sound convincing. Do not share passwords, card information or security codes if someone follows up. If you also entered financial or account information, contact your bank or the relevant service promptly.

Reviewed by our editorial team on October 7, 2026.

Last updated October 8, 2026