Are you receiving an SMS or email message indicating that there was a problem sending a package and asking you to pay shipping or postage? Beware, this is an attempt to scam parcel delivery!

Cybercriminals pose as some of the most notorious delivery businesses for stealing and fraudulently using personal and credit card information. A false parcel tracking number and a link are sent to you by SMS (follow the instructions here, reprogram your delivery...). Do not click on this link at any time and never give your bank details. It could cost you a lot of money.

Periods of high activity of online commerce (end of year parties, sales, Black Friday) are conducive to this type of scams since many people wait or send parcels. Be vigilant.

What's this about?

This type of fraudulent message falls into the category of cyber malware called phishing. It misuses the identity of a known delivery company to induce the victim to provide personal or confidential information.

In the case of parcel delivery scams, victims receive a message (e-mail or SMS) that appears to come from well-known transport businesses. Messages received via SMS typically display a sender name of a known delivery service and a phone number (5-digit short number starting with 38) that resembles those used by real delivery services.

This message announces that a package must be delivered to you but that you must pay shipping or shipping costs, VAT or customs... The small amount claimed encourages you to make this payment and click on the link. You will then be redirected to a fraudulent website that impersonates the company of delivery on which you will be asked for personal information: identity, postal or electronic address, telephone number, credit card details in order to pay the alleged delivery charges.

What if you receive a parcel delivery scam message?

Please note that delivery companies will never ask you by SMS or email for any payment to receive a package.

If you are not sure, please contact the shipping company directly to confirm the message you received. If the company tells you that it did not send this message, it is a scam attempt.

Never click this link. Under no circumstances do you provide personal or credit card information.

The site cyber malware.gouv.fr provides you with all the useful tips to spot these types of scams, to know what to do if you receive a fraudulent message or if you are the victim of the parcel delivery scam.