Scam library · Delivery · Shopping · Email & phishing
Fake customs or import fee delivery scam
The message says an international parcel is being held by customs and won't be released until you pay a duty, tax or 'clearance fee', usually a few dollars to around $50.
Since new tariffs and the end of the duty-free small-parcel exemption put real import fees in the news in 2025, these messages sound more believable than ever. That's exactly why scammers use them.
What the message looks like
From: CustomsClearance (+1 202-555-0119)
U.S. Customs notice: Your international parcel is held pending payment of import duty ($28.40). Unpaid parcels are destroyed after 72 hours.
Release your parcel: cbp-parcelrelease[.]com
Ref: 4482-CC
How this scam works
The message often names a real carrier or 'U.S. Customs and Border Protection' and includes a tracking number and a short deadline. The link goes to a payment page that collects your card, and sometimes your date of birth or Social Security number 'for customs records'.
Some versions come after you really did order from an overseas store, because scammers time their waves to shopping seasons. Others go to people who ordered nothing at all.
Customs itself doesn't text you for payment. When duties are real, the carrier that's delivering the parcel collects them, and you can see the charge by tracking the package on the carrier's own website or app.
Red flags
- A text or email that claims to be from customs itself asking for payment.
- A link that isn't the carrier's own website, or a 'government' site not ending in .gov.
- A threat that the parcel will be destroyed or returned within hours.
- Requests for your Social Security number, date of birth or bank login to 'clear' a package.
- No seller name or order details you recognize.
How to tell it’s fake
- Find the order in the store's account or confirmation email and use that tracking number at the carrier's site.
- If duties are due, the real carrier shows them in its tracking page, notice or app.
- If you didn't order anything from abroad, there's no duty to pay.
What to do if you clicked, paid or shared info
Don’t panic, and don’t blame yourself. These scams are built by professionals. Act quickly, one step at a time.
If you clicked a link or called back
- Close the page and don't enter details. Forward a text to 7726 and delete it.
- Report the message at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you paid
- Call your card issuer using the number on your card, dispute the charge and ask for a new card number.
If you shared personal info, a password or a code
- If you gave your Social Security number, place a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion and use IdentityTheft.gov to make a recovery plan.
Where to report and get help (U.S.)
If a message seems legit and you’re still not sure, get a second opinion before you act. Reporting helps stop scammers, even if money can’t be recovered. If you are in danger, call 911.
- Your bank or card issuer
Call the number on the back of your card or on your statement, not one from the message. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and to watch the account. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report the scam and get a step-by-step recovery plan. - FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · ic3.gov
Report scams that happened online, especially if money was lost. Include phone numbers, websites and payment details. - AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline · aarp.org helpline
Free, for anyone of any age: trained volunteers help you sort out next steps. 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. - IdentityTheft.gov · IdentityTheft.gov
If you shared your Social Security number or someone opened accounts in your name.
How Gmork Scam Guard would warn you
When you open a customs or delivery payment page in Chrome or Edge on your computer, Scam Guard checks whether it's really the carrier or a .gov site and warns you before you pay a lookalike. In delivery emails you have open in the browser, it flags the deadline pressure and tells you how to check whether any duty is actually owed.
Scam Guard can miss things, so the checks above still matter. See what it warns about and what it keeps private.
Questions people ask
- Do I have to pay customs fees on online orders now?
- Some imports do carry duties, and the carrier delivering the package collects them. Check the charge on the carrier's own tracking page, never through a link in an unexpected message.
- Does U.S. Customs text people?
- Customs doesn't send texts asking you to pay to release a parcel. Treat any such text as a scam.
- I paid $3. Should I worry?
- The amount doesn't matter: the scammers have your card. Ask your card issuer for a new number and watch for follow-up scams.