Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
“Your package couldn’t be delivered. Pay ₹25 to reschedule.” The amount is tiny, the link looks routine, and that’s the point: the fee is bait. The real target is the card or UPI details you type into the page. This guide focuses on delivery-fee scams — a request for payment to release, redeliver, or “complete” a parcel.
A genuine courier doesn’t ask you to enter full card details on an unknown link for a token fee. A small amount lowers your guard and makes you feel that even if it’s fake, little is lost. In practice, the page is built to capture your card data and OTP for a far bigger payment.
Call the number on your card or passbook, not one from the message. Ask for the card to be blocked and any suspicious debits flagged.
List every unauthorised transaction. Reporting speed affects liability under RBI’s rules.
File at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 and include the message, the link, and the sender number.
Use the Chakshu feature on sancharsaathi.gov.in to report suspected fraud communications.
If you are genuinely expecting a parcel, track it with the tracking number through the courier’s or shop’s official app, not through the link you were sent.
Ask yourself one question before clicking: am I actually expecting something? If you can’t name the order, the seller, or the courier, ignore the message. If you are expecting something, open the shop’s app directly instead.
| Genuine | Scam Pattern |
|---|---|
| Includes a real tracking number you can check in the official app | Vague message with a shortened or odd link |
| Doesn't need card details for a token 'redelivery' fee | Asks you to pay a small fee on an unknown page |
| Matches an order you actually placed | About a parcel you never ordered or can't identify |
No. Reporting to your bank, cybercrime.gov.in, and Chakshu is free.
Yes. A lawyer is relevant mainly if your bank disputes liability for a promptly reported case.
Need professional legal help with this?
Find a Lawyer on VidyodayRelated tactics are covered in our guides on the fake courier message on WhatsApp, the fake courier SMS scam, and our complete online shopping fraud guide.
A small fee feels harmless, so people enter card details without thinking. The page then captures the data for larger payments.
Use the tracking number in the courier’s or shop’s official app or site, not a link in a message.
Lower risk, but avoid further interaction, don’t reply, and report the message.
Call your bank immediately to block the card, then follow the steps above.
Cash-on-delivery amounts are paid to the delivery person at the door. A payment link for a token ‘redelivery’ fee is a red flag.
Through Chakshu on sancharsaathi.gov.in, and on cybercrime.gov.in if money was lost.
It depends on speed and circumstances; prompt reporting gives the best chance.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify any parcel directly with the courier or seller through official channels.
