$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
UPS customs clearance fee scam
A message claims your UPS international shipment is held at customs and you must pay a clearance fee via a link, which is a phishing page designed to steal payment information.
“package delivery scam text”
↓ 31%Key indicators
Usually targetsInternational shoppers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$240
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $2.4K
Recovery rate~20%
Annual reports160,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers send emails or texts claiming your international package is stuck in customs and requires a small fee to release.
2
The payment link leads to a phishing page that captures credit card details.
3
Some variants also ask for a photo of your ID to complete the customs verification.
What to do first
Contact UPS directly through the official website or phone number to verify any customs charges.
Related terms
UPS customs fee phishingfake customs duty UPSUPS import charge scamPackage delivery scamsUPSSurgingInternational shoppersSmall business ownersImportersSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaUPS customs fee phishingfake customs duty UPS
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Nicole, 35, a international shoppers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate package delivery scams situation while using UPS. Scammers send emails or texts claiming your international package is stuck in customs and requires a small fee to release.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The payment link leads to a phishing page that captures credit card details.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Some variants also ask for a photo of your ID to complete the customs verification.
The outcome
Nicole realized something was wrong when unexpected customs fee request for a shipment you were not expecting. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Contact UPS directly through the official website or phone number to verify any customs charges. Nicole's experience shows why unexpected customs fee request for a shipment you were not expecting and payment requested through a link rather than through official ups channels are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unexpected customs fee request for a shipment you were not expecting
- Payment requested through a link rather than through official UPS channels
- Email or text threatens package destruction if fee is not paid quickly
- 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
- ✓Contact UPS directly through the official website or phone number to verify any customs charges.
- ✓Never pay customs fees through links received via email or text message.
- ✓Report the message to UPS at [email protected] and to the FTC.
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.
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.
- The BBB reported a significant increase in fake customs and duty fee scams tied to shipping brands during 2024 holiday seasons.
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.
- ✓Contact UPS directly through the official website or phone number to verify any customs charges.
- ✓Never pay customs fees through links received via email or text message.
- ✓Report the message to UPS at [email protected] and to the FTC.
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.
The BBB reported a significant increase in fake customs and duty fee scams tied to shipping brands during 2024 holiday seasons.
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
International shoppers, Small business owners, Importers
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
UPS — Package delivery scams
Why this group is vulnerable
International 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
- The BBB reported a significant increase in fake customs and duty fee scams tied to shipping brands during 2024 holiday seasons.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about ups customs clearance fee scam
How does the ups customs clearance fee scam work?+
Scammers send emails or texts claiming your international package is stuck in customs and requires a small fee to release. The payment link leads to a phishing page that captures credit card details. Some variants also ask for a photo of your ID to complete the customs verification.
What are the warning signs of ups customs clearance fee scam?+
Unexpected customs fee request for a shipment you were not expecting Payment requested through a link rather than through official UPS channels Email or text threatens package destruction if fee is not paid quickly
What should I do if I encounter ups customs clearance fee scam?+
Contact UPS directly through the official website or phone number to verify any customs charges. Never pay customs fees through links received via email or text message. Report the message to UPS at [email protected] and to the FTC.
Who is most at risk for ups customs clearance fee scam?+
This scam primarily targets International shoppers, Small business owners, Importers. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on UPS.
Is ups customs clearance fee scam getting worse?+
UPS customs clearance fee scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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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.
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