Royal Mail scam text: check fake delivery fee links

A Royal Mail scam text usually claims that a parcel is waiting, delayed, held for a fee, or needs address confirmation. The aim is to push you onto a fake tracking or payment page before you notice the link is not official.

Use this guide to check the warning signs, report the message, and decide what to do if you already opened the link or entered card details.

Last reviewed: 18 July 2026. Author: ScanLens. Source review: official guidance listed below.

Quick answer: is this Royal Mail text fake?

Treat it as suspicious if the message asks you to pay a small redelivery fee, confirm your address through a shortened link, or act immediately to stop a parcel being returned. Do not use the link in the message. Type the official Royal Mail website address yourself or use the Royal Mail app if you already have it.

Do not enter card details from a delivery text link.
Check the tracking number through the official Royal Mail website, not through the SMS link.
Forward suspicious delivery texts to 7726, the UK spam text reporting service.

How the scam works

Claims a parcel is delayed, held, or waiting for redelivery.
Uses urgency so you pay a small fee without checking the sender.
Copies delivery language to look routine and harmless.
Sends you to a fake tracking or payment page.
Tries to collect card details, name, address, or phone number.

Common signs it may be fake

The link does not use an official Royal Mail domain.
The message asks for a small fee before showing delivery details.
The wording creates pressure, such as today only or avoid return.
The sender is a random mobile number or strange email address.
The page asks for more information than a parcel tracker normally needs.

How to check if a link is safe

Never click suspicious links directly. The safest move is to copy the URL and scan it first with a phishing link checker or scam URL scanner.

Scan this link on homepage

This article page does not run direct API scans because public scanning requires verification. Clicking the button opens the main ScanLens web scanner, where you can check if a link is safe before opening it.

Scan the full message, not only the link

If the warning arrived by SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger or email, paste the full message into ScanLens before you click. Full-message scanning checks the wording, urgency, brand claims and link together, which is often more accurate than checking a raw URL by itself.

What to do if it looks like a scam

Do not use the link in the message.
Go to the official Royal Mail website manually and check tracking there.
If you entered card details, contact your bank immediately.
Delete the message after reporting it as spam or phishing.
Scan suspicious delivery links with ScanLens before opening them.

If you already clicked or paid

Contact your bank or card provider straight away and say you may have entered details on a fake delivery payment page.
Watch for follow-up calls pretending to be from your bank, Royal Mail or a fraud team.
If you used the same password anywhere, change it from the real website or app.
Report the text and keep screenshots if money was taken.

Official reporting links

The National Cyber Security Centre publishes guidance about missed-parcel scam messages. In the UK, suspicious texts can be forwarded to 7726. For wider phishing reports, GOV.UK explains how to report suspicious emails and websites.

Safer habit

If a message says your account has a problem, never solve it through the link inside the message. Go to the official site manually or use a scanner first.

Even a safe-looking domain can be used for redirection, imitation, or social engineering.

Real example of this scam

Example text message:

Royal Mail: Your parcel could not be delivered today. Please confirm your address and pay the redelivery fee to avoid return to sender.

A real delivery notice should not pressure you to pay through a random message link.

Scam category

This guide is part of the Delivery scams hub. Use the category page to compare similar scams and warning signs.

View Delivery scams

FAQ

Does Royal Mail ask for redelivery payment by text link?

Be careful with any message that asks for payment through a link. Go to the official Royal Mail website manually instead of trusting the message.

What happens if I enter my card details?

Scammers may try to charge your card or use your details for further fraud. Contact your bank quickly and monitor your account.

How can I tell if the tracking page is fake?

Check the domain carefully. Fake pages often imitate the design but use a different domain, misspellings, or unusual payment forms.

Should I reply to the message?

No. Do not reply, do not click, and do not provide extra information. Verify delivery through the official site.

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