DHL delivery scam message examples
Example scam messages
DHL: Shipment 4482-AU has arrived in Australia and is held by border clearance. An import duty of $12.80 is outstanding. Pay today at dhl-clearance-au[.]example or the item will be returned to origin.
What gives it away:
- DHL never requests customs or import fees through an SMS link; genuine duties appear inside your account on the DHL portal when you log in yourself
- The domain isn't dhl.com, and a return-to-origin ultimatum is the pressure tactic, not how clearance works
- The text came from an ordinary number; DHL doesn't message from random numbers asking you to click
Subject: Delivery on hold: confirmation needed. Dear valued customer, our courier could not confirm your address. Verify your details within 24 hours at dhl-parcel-confirm[.]example, or your package will be returned and re-shipping charges will apply.
What gives it away:
- It wasn't sent from a dhl.com address, and the verify link leads to a lookalike DHL-branded page built to harvest your details
- A 'verify your details or lose the parcel' demand with a deadline is a stock impersonation script; delivery changes happen through the official app or logged-in portal
- It never names you or your shipment properly, because the same email goes to thousands of inboxes at once
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 DHL through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
Understand the scam and the brand
Not sure about a message?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this DHL message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of DHL impersonation scams — real reported patterns, not genuine DHL 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 DHL's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake DHL message from a genuine one?
Genuine messages: Genuine DHL delivery updates and tracking notices are sent from dhl.com domains only. 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.