The Friday Care Tip – 13th November 2026
UK police forces, trading standards, and consumer protection groups such as Age UK have documented evidence of scammers impersonating couriers or delivery drivers—often called courier fraud or doorstep scams—to target older and vulnerable people, particularly around the Christmas and festive period.
How the Scams Work at the Door
• Impersonation: Fraudsters dress in high-visibility jackets, carry fake clipboards, or use spoofed branding to look like genuine couriers or postal workers.
• The “Delivery” Hook: They knock on the door, claiming there is an urgent parcel, a cash-on-delivery customs/handling fee, or a missed-package issue that requires immediate payment or verification.
Warning Signs of a Parcel Delivery Text Scam
The following can help you identify a parcel delivery text scam, whether the text claims to be from Royal Mail, Evri, DPD or any other carrier.
1. A Parcel Delivery Text Scam Always Asks You to Pay Via a Link
This is the single most reliable warning sign. If you receive a text asking for payment relating to a parcel, do not use the link provided. Instead, visit the courier’s official website independently to check whether a payment is genuinely due. If you genuinely owe a customs charge, Royal Mail sends a grey card to your door.
2. The Link Does Not Match the Company’s Real Website
Before clicking anything, look at the web address in the text. Royal Mail’s genuine website is royalmail.com. Evri’s is evri.com. Scam links typically use variations such as royal-mail-delivery.com, evri-parcel.co.uk, or random combinations of letters. If the address looks even slightly unusual, do not tap it. The safest way to check for missed parcels is to log directly into the courier’s official website and use their tracking tool — never via a link in a text that you are suspicious of.
3. The Text Creates Urgency
Phrases like “your parcel will be returned within 24 hours” or “action required today” are designed to make you act before you think. Genuine delivery notifications do not threaten immediate return of your parcel if you fail to pay within hours. Urgency in a text message is a red flag, not a reason to act faster.
4. You Were Not Expecting a Delivery From That Carrier
If the text claims to be from Royal Mail but everything you have ordered recently comes via Evri, pause. It may still be genuine — retailers use multiple couriers — but it is worth checking your order confirmation emails before paying anything. Log in directly to the retailer’s website to check your delivery status rather than using any link in the text.
5. The Sender Name Looks Right But the Number Does Not
Fraudsters can spoof the sender name displayed on your phone so the text appears to come from “Royal Mail” or “Evri” — even appearing in the same message thread as genuine texts from those companies. The sender name alone means nothing. If the content of the message asks for payment, treat it as suspicious regardless of what the sender name says.
Remember – Stop, Check and Protect
Three simple precautions could prevent you becoming a victim of fraud:
• STOP – Never feel pressured to make an immediate payment or provide personal or bank details.
• CHECK – If you are unsure about a delivery, contact the retailer or courier directly using their official website or telephone number.
• PROTECT – Do not click suspicious links. Forward suspicious text messages to 7726, a free service used to report scam texts. (7726 is a free-to-use short code you can text to report suspicious spam text messages and scam calls to your mobile network provider.)
Please pass this Friday Care Tip on to an older relative, friend or neighbour. A few minutes of shared information could prevent someone becoming a victim of fraud this Christmas.
Please note
This tip is only guidance. Scam tactics change, so always check the latest advice from the courier or official sources if you are unsure.
