A text says Canada Post could not deliver — pay a small customs or redelivery fee
A text pretends to be from Canada Post (Postes Canada) claiming your parcel needs a small customs, duty, or redelivery fee — usually $1-$4 CAD. The link leads to a fake canadapost.ca lookalike site that captures your card details and often full identity data. Same crew rotates through UPS, FedEx, Purolator, and DHL branding.
Also known as: fake Canada Post text, Postes Canada text scam, redelivery fee text scam, canadapost.ca smishing
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, log into your Canada Post account or check tracking at https://canadapost.ca — type the URL yourself
- 2 Forward the scam text to 7726 (SPAM) — Canadian carriers' fraud reporting number for text scams
- 3 If you already entered card details on a fake site, call your bank immediately and cancel the card
- 4 Check your bank and credit card statements for the next 3 months — some fraudsters resell stolen card details weeks later
- 5 Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.
Red flags
- ⚠ Canada Post redelivery attempts are notified by a slip left in your mailbox or postal outlet — not by text demanding a small fee
- ⚠ The fee is very small ($1.99, $2.49, $3.50 CAD) — deliberately low so you don't pause
- ⚠ The link is not canadapost.ca — it's a lookalike like 'canadapost-delivery.com', 'postescanada-redeliver.com', or a shortened URL
- ⚠ 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, or Social Insurance Number — none of which Canada Post ever needs
- ⚠ You are not currently expecting a parcel — but the text arrives anyway
Known variants
-
Fake UPS / FedEx / Purolator variant: same script, different logo. Purolator specifically targeted in Canada because business shippers use it and recipients may not recognise the brand well enough to spot lookalikes. Cross-border parcels use 'customs duty' pretext with slightly higher fees ($5-$15).
Last seen: 5/15/2026