Is this delivery text from FedEx a scam?
No. FedEx is a genuine global courier that ships to and from Australia every day. Any 'FedEx' text demanding a customs payment or threatening to return your parcel is a scammer trading on the name: real FedEx updates live in the FedEx app and on fedex.com, not behind payment links. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real FedEx message from a fake.
Genuine FedEx links lead to fedex.com — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is exactly what a real FedEx message looks like, the scams currently circulating in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and a real example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
What a real FedEx message looks like
Genuine messages from FedEx link to fedex.com. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- FedEx sends delivery updates via the FedEx app or the tracking page on fedex.com; it does not use SMS sender IDs for Australian customers
- Genuine FedEx notifications reference a specific 12- or 15-digit tracking number and never ask you to click a link to pay fees
- FedEx only directs customers to the official fedex.com site or the FedEx app to view or manage shipments
- Any message claiming to be from FedEx that contains a shortened link or an urgent payment request is not from the real company
- FedEx will never send an SMS demanding immediate customs payment or threatening to return the parcel
What FedEx will never do
- Send an SMS demanding immediate customs payment or threatening to return the parcel (FedEx states it will never do this)
- Ask you to click a link to pay fees or provide login details
- Direct you anywhere other than the official fedex.com site or the FedEx app to view or manage a shipment
- Use shortened links or urgent payment requests; a message with either is not from the real company
- Charge a 'release' or 'redelivery' fee through a text; no legitimate courier collects money that way
Common FedEx scams
- Scammers send SMS claiming a FedEx parcel is held in customs and requires an online payment to release it
- Messages use lookalike domains such as fedex-redelivery[.]example or fedex-secure-login[.]example to host fake payment pages
- The SMS often includes a fake tracking number and a link that leads to a credential-harvesting or malware site
- Scammers impersonate missed-delivery notices and pressure recipients to act within a short time frame
Red flags to watch for
- The message contains a link that asks for payment or personal details to release a parcel
- The sender claims to be FedEx but uses an ordinary mobile number or an unrecognised sender ID
- The text threatens that the package will be returned or destroyed unless payment is made immediately
- The domain in the link does not end in fedex.com
- The message creates urgency with phrases such as "final notice" or "customs hold"
FedEx scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating FedEx typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
FedEx AU: Customs hold on item 6120 9944 8831. A processing fee of $9.20 must be paid before 6pm today or the shipment will be sent back overseas. Release your item: fedx-au-release[.]example
What gives it away:
- FedEx states it will never send an SMS demanding immediate customs payment or threatening to return a parcel; this message does both
- The link doesn't end in fedex.com, and the misspelt lookalike is doing the visual work of the real name
- The tracking number is bait: type it into fedex.com yourself and the 'held shipment' won't exist
Subject: FINAL NOTICE: delivery attempt unsuccessful. Your FedEx package could not be delivered and is in temporary storage. Confirm your address and schedule redelivery via the secure portal at fedex-mydelivery[.]example. Unclaimed items are disposed of shortly.
What gives it away:
- 'FINAL NOTICE' urgency plus a disposal threat is a stock pressure script; real FedEx updates appear in the FedEx app or on fedex.com without countdowns
- The 'secure portal' is a lookalike domain, exactly the kind used to host fake payment and credential pages
- It names no proper 12- or 15-digit tracking number you can verify, because there is no parcel
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious FedEx text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from FedEx
FedEx's real website is fedex.com and the official app is the FedEx app. Reach FedEx through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Don't tap the link or pay anything through the message
- Type fedex.com into your browser yourself, or open the official FedEx app, and enter the genuine tracking number from your shipping label or order confirmation
- If the message's tracking number isn't recognised on the real site, or you aren't expecting a FedEx shipment, treat it as a scam and delete it
If you have been scammed in FedEx's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- If you entered card details, call your bank immediately to block the card and dispute any charges
- If you entered a password, change it on the real site straight away, and everywhere else you reuse it
- Run a security scan on your device if you followed the link, since some of these pages push malware as well as harvesting details
- If identity documents were shared, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below, and forward the SMS to 7226 (spells SCAM)
Where to report a scam impersonating FedEx
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating FedEx? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Complain about scam texts and spam SMS, email or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SCAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so carriers can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Latest FedEx scams in 2026
Fake FedEx messages keep circulating in Australia as part of the broader parcel-scam churn, usually interleaved with AusPost and DHL waves from the same operators. The current pattern favours a customs-hold text with a same-day deadline, backed by an email 'final notice' if the text is ignored, with lookalike domains swapped out as fast as they are blocked. What doesn't change: FedEx will never demand customs payment by SMS or threaten to send a parcel back, and every genuine update is visible in the FedEx app or at fedex.com. Checking the tracking number there, on an address you typed yourself, settles any message in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text saying FedEx needs a customs payment — is it a scam?
Yes. FedEx never collects customs fees via SMS links. Go to fedex.com, enter your real tracking number and check the status there.
How do I know if a FedEx message is real?
Real FedEx updates appear inside the FedEx app or on fedex.com; they never ask you to click a link to pay fees or provide login details.
What should I do if I clicked the link in the FedEx SMS?
Close the page, do not enter any details, run a security scan on your device, and report the message at scamwatch.gov.au.
FedEx scam text with a link — where do I report it?
Forward the SMS to 7226 and lodge a report at scamwatch.gov.au or cyber.gov.au so authorities can investigate the campaign.
What is FedEx's real website?
FedEx's only official website is fedex.com, and the FedEx app is the official mobile channel. Track shipments by typing fedex.com into your browser yourself and entering the tracking number from your shipping label. A link whose domain doesn't end in fedex.com is not FedEx, however convincing the page looks.
Does FedEx charge redelivery or storage fees by text message?
No. FedEx will never send an SMS demanding payment or threatening to return a parcel, and no legitimate courier collects fees through a link in a text. If a real shipment genuinely needs attention, the status shows in the FedEx app and at fedex.com when you check it yourself.
Related scam types
Scams impersonating FedEx usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other courier names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Text or SMS scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Phishing scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Report a cybercrime or cyber security incident (Australian Cyber Security Centre)
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with FedEx through an official channel.