COURIER & DELIVERY
KIWISCAN • NZ SCAM CHECKER

Courier & delivery scams: failed delivery texts, fees, and fake tracking links.

Scammers often impersonate NZ Post and courier brands with “delivery failed”, “customs fee”, or “address incomplete” messages. The goal is to get you to click a link, pay a small fee, or enter card details.

Common courier scam examples

These are some of the most common delivery scam patterns in NZ.

“Delivery failed — confirm address”

Claims your parcel couldn’t be delivered and pushes a link to “rebook” delivery. The link leads to a fake tracking page that collects details or card info.

Real couriers rarely require card details to “confirm address” via SMS link.

“Customs / redelivery fee required”

Asks you to pay a small fee (often $1–$5) to “release” or “reschedule” a parcel. It’s a common trap to capture card details for later fraud.

Small fee + urgent link is a classic scam signal.

“Track your parcel” shortlink

Uses a shortened link or odd domain to look “official”. The link may redirect multiple times and land on a phishing form that asks for delivery details or payment.

Shortened links hide the true destination — treat as high risk until checked.

Courier scam red flags

If you see any of these, stop and verify via official channels.

Dodgy tracking links

  • Short links or random domains that don’t match the courier brand
  • Lots of redirects before showing a “tracking” page
  • Phishy path words: “confirm”, “update”, “verify”, “delivery-fee”
  • Domains with weird endings or extra dashes/spelling changes

Pressure and urgency

  • “Final notice”, “will be returned”, “today only” language
  • Threats that your parcel will be destroyed or returned immediately
  • Countdown timers or repeated follow-up messages
  • Requests to act fast “to avoid fees”

Payment or card capture

  • Any request for card details, CVV, or banking login
  • “Small fee” to release/reschedule delivery
  • Payment pages that don’t match the courier’s real domain
  • Asks you to pay via crypto, gift cards, or unusual methods

Doesn’t match your reality

  • You didn’t order anything or aren’t expecting a parcel
  • No tracking number (or it looks random/invalid)
  • Message is vague: “your parcel” with no details
  • Sender ID looks like “NZPOST” but the link is unrelated

What to do next

Use safer paths: official apps, typed URLs, and trusted tracking methods.

Step 01

Don’t click the tracking link

Treat the SMS/email as untrusted. Don’t tap links, don’t open attachments, and don’t enter any details.

If it’s real, you can confirm the parcel status without using the message link.
Step 02

Verify from a trusted source

Use your normal courier app, your order confirmation email, or type the courier’s official website address yourself. Enter the tracking number there if you have one.

Avoid searching the phone number from the message — scammers spoof those too.
Step 03

If you paid or entered card details

Contact your bank immediately, cancel/replace cards if needed, and watch for new charges. If you reused a password, change it everywhere.

Use the action pages below for step-by-step guidance.
FAST SAFETY SHORTCUTS

Need immediate steps?

If you clicked a link, paid money, or shared details — these pages walk you through what to do next.

Courier & delivery scams FAQ

Quick answers to common questions.

Why do courier scams ask for a small fee?

The fee is bait. The real goal is capturing your card details for later fraud or charging multiple transactions after you submit the form.

What does KiwiScan treat as HIGH risk for courier messages?

Any hard indicator: a link/shortlink, a phone/WhatsApp handle, a payment request, a login/OTP request, or install/remote-access instructions. Those are strong scam markers.

What if I’m actually expecting a parcel?

Still don’t use the message link. Check tracking using your order confirmation email or the courier’s official site/app (typed/bookmarked). Scammers rely on you being “in a hurry”.

Got a “delivery failed” text?

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