You receive a call or SMS claiming your parcel is held and that you must pay a customs or redelivery fee to release it. The message impersonates a well-known carrier — DHL, Chronopost, La Poste, UPS — and creates a false sense of urgency. In 2026, this is one of the most reported scams in France via Signal Conso and the DGCCRF.
Red flags to spot immediately
- Payment requested by phone or link — real carriers never ask for bank details this way.
- Artificial urgency — pressure to act within hours is a manipulation tactic.
- Tracking number that doesn't exist on the carrier's official website.
- Customs fees for EU parcels — these do not exist within the European Union.
What real carriers do and don't do
A legitimate carrier will never ask for your card details over the phone. Delivery fees are settled at the time of purchase. When a real delivery fails, you get a physical calling card in your letterbox. Never click a delivery link in an unsolicited SMS — this is smishing.
How to react
- Do not call back the number in the message — go directly to the carrier's official website.
- Check the caller's number on TelCheck (telcheck.fr).
- Report the scam on Signal Conso (signalconso.gouv.fr).
- If you shared banking details, contact your bank immediately to cancel your card.