Australia Post Scam Texts: How to Tell Real from Fake

Australia Post Scam Texts: How to Tell Real from Fake

"Your parcel couldn't be delivered. Please pay a $3.50 redelivery fee to reschedule." Sound familiar? This particular scam has been flooding Australian phones for years, and it keeps working because it's just plausible enough. You've ordered something recently. Maybe it was missed. Maybe there IS a fee.

Spoiler: there's not. Here's how to tell the difference.

The Australia Post SMS scam:

A text message, typically from a random mobile number or a number spoofed to look like "Australia Post" or "AusPost," tells you:

• A parcel couldn't be delivered
• You need to pay a small redelivery fee
• You need to update your delivery address
• Your package is being held

The message contains a link that goes to a convincing fake Australia Post website. You enter your address, your card details to pay the "fee," and hand them directly to scammers.

The variation: email version

The same scam runs via email, with a fake Australia Post notification about a parcel awaiting collection. The link, again, goes to a fake site.

How to tell the difference:

1. Real Australia Post emails come from @auspost.com.au. Anything else is suspicious.

1. Check the link before clicking. Hover over it on desktop or press-hold on mobile. Does the URL look like `auspost.com.au`? Or does it look like `aus-post-delivery.com` or similar?

1. Australia Post doesn't randomly charge redelivery fees via SMS link. If there was a genuine delivery issue, you'd have a card in your letterbox or a notification in your MyPost account.

1. Go directly to the app. If you're expecting a parcel, track it through the official Australia Post app or by going directly to auspost.com.au and entering your tracking number.

1. Are you even expecting a parcel? If you haven't ordered anything recently, this message has nothing to do with you.

What to do if you receive one:

• Don't click the link
• Forward the message to 7226 (the ACMA scam SMS reporting number)
• Report it at scamwatch.gov.au
• Delete the message

What to do if you already clicked and entered details:

• Contact your bank immediately to report potential fraud
• Change any passwords you used on the site
• Monitor your accounts for unusual activity

The $3.50 trap

The fee is deliberately tiny because it makes you less suspicious and reduces your barrier to paying. But entering your card details doesn't just expose $3.50 — it exposes your full card information for whatever the scammer wants to charge.

Don't take the bait — test your scam radar at Phishbate →