Australian Border Force scam message examples
Example scam messages
An 'officer' from Border Force says a parcel in your name has been seized at Sydney Airport containing undeclared goods. You can either pay the customs release fee by bank transfer while he stays on the line, or the matter will be escalated to a criminal investigation and police will be sent to your address this afternoon.
What gives it away:
- An unexpected call about a parcel is a reason to hang up and check; the Home Affairs Minister's advice for an unexpected call is to hang up straight away and call back using a publicly available number
- A fee demanded while you stay on the line, backed by a threat of police at your door, is pressure to stop you checking; the Victorian Government says scammers rush you so you don't have time to think things through
- A 'stay on the line' instruction blocks you from calling the agency or your bank; the AFP says that if you suspect a scammer you should end the call immediately
ABF Notice: A package addressed to you is held pending customs clearance. Settle the outstanding duty at border-clearance-au[.]invalid within hours or the goods will be returned to sender and a penalty applied.
What gives it away:
- A text demanding duty within hours is pressure to pay before you check; confirm any customs or parcel matter with the retailer or carrier, or through the Australian Border Force's own website, not through the text
- Don't pay through a link in a text; a lookalike address is easy to make, so open the agency's website yourself rather than using the link
- A countdown plus a penalty threat is a pressure tactic, and a reason to slow down rather than a reason to pay
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact Australian Border Force through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Australian Border Force message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of Australian Border Force impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine Australian Border Force messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through Australian Border Force's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake Australian Border Force message from a genuine one?
Any claimed customs or border matter can be checked independently: hang up, find the Australian Border Force's contact details on its own website, and call that number rather than one the caller or message gave you. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.