$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
DHL customs payment scam
A message posing as DHL claims your international package is held at customs and requires a fee to be released, directing you to a fraudulent payment portal.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline shoppers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$160
median reported loss
Typical range$16 – $1.6K
Recovery rate~20%
Annual reports160,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send emails or texts mimicking DHL branding and claiming a customs duty is owed.
2
The payment link leads to a phishing site that captures credit card and personal details.
3
Victims pay the small fee without suspecting fraud, and their card details are later used for larger charges.
What to do first
Verify customs charges directly through the official DHL website using your tracking number.
Related terms
fake DHL customs feeDHL import duty scamDHL package held phishingPackage delivery scamsEmailSurgingOnline shoppersSmall business ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliafake DHL customs feeDHL import duty scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jason, 34, a online shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using Email. Scammers send emails or texts mimicking DHL branding and claiming a customs duty is owed.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The payment link leads to a phishing site that captures credit card and personal details.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims pay the small fee without suspecting fraud, and their card details are later used for larger charges.
The outcome
Jason realized something was wrong when message claims customs charges must be paid through a link before delivery can proceed. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify customs charges directly through the official DHL website using your tracking number. Jason's experience shows why message claims customs charges must be paid through a link before delivery can proceed and sender email domain is not dhl.com or the official dhl domain for your country are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Message claims customs charges must be paid through a link before delivery can proceed
- Sender email domain is not dhl.com or the official DHL domain for your country
- The customs fee is unusually small — often under 3 USD — to seem plausible
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify customs charges directly through the official DHL website using your tracking number.
- ✓Do not pay fees through links in unsolicited messages.
- ✓Report suspicious DHL communications to [email protected].
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
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
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- DHL warns on its official site that it does not request payment via email or text for customs clearance and advises customers to verify all charges through official channels.
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.
- ✓Verify customs charges directly through the official DHL website using your tracking number.
- ✓Do not pay fees through links in unsolicited messages.
- ✓Report suspicious DHL communications to [email protected].
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
DHL warns on its official site that it does not request payment via email or text for customs clearance and advises customers to verify all charges through official channels.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online shoppers, Small business owners
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Australia
Primary channel
Email — Package delivery scams
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 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- DHL warns on its official site that it does not request payment via email or text for customs clearance and advises customers to verify all charges through official channels.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about dhl customs payment scam
How does the dhl customs payment scam work?+
Scammers send emails or texts mimicking DHL branding and claiming a customs duty is owed. The payment link leads to a phishing site that captures credit card and personal details. Victims pay the small fee without suspecting fraud, and their card details are later used for larger charges.
What are the warning signs of dhl customs payment scam?+
Message claims customs charges must be paid through a link before delivery can proceed Sender email domain is not dhl.com or the official DHL domain for your country The customs fee is unusually small — often under 3 USD — to seem plausible
What should I do if I encounter dhl customs payment scam?+
Verify customs charges directly through the official DHL website using your tracking number. Do not pay fees through links in unsolicited messages. Report suspicious DHL communications to [email protected].
Who is most at risk for dhl customs payment scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online shoppers, Small business owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Australia and typically appears on Email.
Is dhl customs payment scam getting worse?+
DHL customs payment scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Employment fraud
↑ 80%Fake job offer advance payment scam
A victim receives what looks like a legitimate remote job offer and is asked to pay upfront for equipment, training, or background checks.
What to do first
Verify the recruiter and company domain independently.
Targets
Job seekers
Seen in
Global
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
Government impersonation
↑ 121%Tax refund verification phishing scam
A fake refund or filing problem message pressures the victim to verify tax identity through a counterfeit government portal.
What to do first
Go directly to the tax authority website instead of using message links.
Targets
Tax filers
Seen in
U.S.
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.
Relevant collections