A text says Australia Post could not deliver — pay a small fee to reschedule
A text pretends to be from Australia Post claiming a package needs a small "redelivery fee" or "customs duty" (usually $1-$4). The link leads to a fake auspost.com.au lookalike site capturing card details, then charging for a recurring subscription or reselling the card. Same crew rotates through Amazon, DHL, and StarTrack branding.
Also known as: fake Australia Post text, AusPost redelivery fee scam, auspost.com smishing, StarTrack parcel scam
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Do not tap the link. If you're expecting a parcel, check tracking directly at https://auspost.com.au — type the URL yourself
- 2 Forward the scam text to 0429 999 888 (Scamwatch's SMS reporting number) then delete it
- 3 If you already entered card details on a fake site, call your bank on the number on the back of your card and cancel the card
- 4 Check your bank statements for the next 3 months — some fraudsters resell stolen card details weeks later
- 5 Report to Scamwatch at https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam or ReportCyber at https://www.cyber.gov.au/report.
Red flags
- ⚠ Australia Post redelivery attempts are notified by a card left in your letterbox, in-app notification, or email — not by text asking for money
- ⚠ The fee is very small ($1.85, $2.99, $3.50) — deliberately low so you don't pause
- ⚠ The link is not auspost.com.au — it's a lookalike like 'auspost-au.com', 'aus-post-redeliver.com', or a shortened URL that hides the destination
- ⚠ The message urges action within 24 hours or the parcel is 'returned to sender'
- ⚠ After entering card details, the site also asks for date of birth, driver's licence number, or Medicare card number — none of which Australia Post ever needs
Known variants
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Fake StarTrack or DHL text: same script, different logo. StarTrack (owned by Australia Post) is targeted because business shipments use it and recipients may not recognise the brand. DHL text hits international parcel expectations.
Last seen: 5/15/2026