$789M
Government imposter losses in 2024
FTC says government imposter scams cost consumers $789 million in 2024.
Customs seized package scam
A message claims a package was seized by customs and needs payment, identity verification, or legal response to avoid charges.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionGlobal
Last updated2026-04-03
Estimated impact
$3.6K
median reported loss
Typical range$240 – $60K
Recovery rate~8%
Annual reports76,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers mimic agencies, courts, police, customs, or public registries and create a compliance emergency.
2
Victims are pressured into paying or handing over sensitive data before they have time to verify the claim.
3
The authority framing reduces skepticism, especially in high-stress or unfamiliar situations.
What to do first
Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly.
Related terms
customs seizure scamborder parcel fraudGovernment impersonationSMSSurgingOnline shoppersImmigrantsTravelersSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsCreators and online sellersGlobalcustoms seizure scamborder parcel fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Christopher, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate government impersonation situation while using SMS. Scammers mimic agencies, courts, police, customs, or public registries and create a compliance emergency.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Victims are pressured into paying or handing over sensitive data before they have time to verify the claim.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The authority framing reduces skepticism, especially in high-stress or unfamiliar situations.
The outcome
Christopher realized something was wrong when the message references contraband or legal risk to create fear.. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly. Christopher's experience shows why the message references contraband or legal risk to create fear. and the message threatens arrest, deportation, penalties, or account freezes if you do not act immediately. are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- The message references contraband or legal risk to create fear.
- The message threatens arrest, deportation, penalties, or account freezes if you do not act immediately.
- Payment or identity collection is requested through an ad hoc channel rather than the real agency workflow.
- Real government agencies do not demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, crypto, or payment app.
- Threats of arrest, deportation, license suspension, or court action if you hang up are classic scam signals.
- Letters, badges, seals, or callback numbers can all be fabricated; verify through the agency website you type yourself.
What to do now
- ✓Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly.
- ✓Do not pay or provide identity data from the first message or call.
- ✓Contact the agency through its official public website or number.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the caller ID, badge images, letters, payment instructions, and any phone numbers used.
- ✓Keep screenshots of the text, email, or fake government portal before you close it.
- ✓If the scam referenced a case number or legal notice, record the exact wording used.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
$2.95B
Imposter scam losses in 2024
FTC says imposter scams overall were the most reported fraud category in 2024 and generated $2.95 billion in losses.
1,000+
Government-imposter monthly complaints can top 1,000
FTC company complaint reports show government-imposter entries like FTC or Customs and Border Protection can exceed a thousand monthly complaints.
History and evolution
- Government-impersonation scams have been around for years, but they keep adapting to tax cycles, court anxiety, immigration fear, and current events.
- The consistent tactic is fake authority plus urgency, especially when victims are told they cannot pause and verify independently.
- Government impersonation succeeds because fear of penalties can override normal verification habits.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓If identity documents, tax details, or account credentials were exposed, start identity-theft recovery and review credit or account activity immediately.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly.
Why this pattern keeps working
Government impersonation works because people are conditioned to respond quickly to legal or tax consequences.
Scammers reuse whatever agency names are already in the news, then mix them with fake case numbers or official-looking documents.
Government impersonation succeeds because fear of penalties can override normal verification habits.
Expanded launch family for agency, court, customs, and benefits impersonation.
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. Global has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
Report cross-border scams
econsumer.gov (ICPEN)
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network portal for reporting cross-border online scams. Reports are shared with consumer protection agencies in 40+ countries.
Interpol financial crime guidance
Interpol
International policing guidance on online financial fraud, romance scams, and investment fraud operating across borders.
Report phishing emails
Anti-Phishing Working Group
Global industry coalition for reporting phishing emails and URLs. Forward phishing to [email protected].
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online shoppers, Immigrants, Travelers
Geographic concentration
Global
Primary channel
SMS — Government impersonation
Why this group is vulnerable
Online shoppers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-03. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Government impersonation succeeds because fear of penalties can override normal verification habits.
Source notes
- Expanded launch family for agency, court, customs, and benefits impersonation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about customs seized package scam
How does the customs seized package scam work?+
Scammers mimic agencies, courts, police, customs, or public registries and create a compliance emergency. Victims are pressured into paying or handing over sensitive data before they have time to verify the claim. The authority framing reduces skepticism, especially in high-stress or unfamiliar situations.
What are the warning signs of customs seized package scam?+
The message references contraband or legal risk to create fear. The message threatens arrest, deportation, penalties, or account freezes if you do not act immediately. Payment or identity collection is requested through an ad hoc channel rather than the real agency workflow.
What should I do if I encounter customs seized package scam?+
Verify any customs issue through the courier or customs agency directly. Do not pay or provide identity data from the first message or call. Contact the agency through its official public website or number.
Who is most at risk for customs seized package scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Immigrants, Travelers. It is most commonly reported in Global and typically appears on SMS.
Is customs seized package scam getting worse?+
Customs seized package scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across Global. Last updated 2026-04-03.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Smishing
↑ 27%Bank verification text phishing scam
A text message claims a suspicious bank event happened and pushes the victim to a fake login page before they stop to verify the sender.
What to do first
Do not tap the link from the text.
Targets
Mobile banking users
Seen in
Global
Travel fraud
↑ 54%Travel booking message hijack scam
A traveler receives a realistic property or booking message that requests off-platform payment, identity verification, or a new deposit.
What to do first
Keep all communication and payment inside the booking platform.
Targets
Travelers
Seen in
Europe
Extension fraud
↑ 131%Malicious browser extension data harvest scam
A seemingly useful browser extension captures browsing activity, credentials, or payment behavior after a short period of benign use.
What to do first
Review permissions before installing.
Targets
Remote workers
Seen in
Global
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.