TrustChekrIs That Canada Post Text Message a Scam?
Canada Post does not text you asking for payment to release a package. Delivery impersonation text scams are one of the fastest-growing fraud types in Canada — the CAFC recorded a 310% increase in parcel delivery scam reports between 2022 and 2024, with losses averaging $650 per victim who clicked and entered payment details.
Our verdict
Educational
Trust score: 100 / 100
Canada Post does not send text messages asking you to pay a customs fee, release fee, or duty charge by clicking a link. If you received a text saying your package is held and you must pay $2.49 to release it — that is a scam. The link goes to a fake Canada Post website designed to steal your credit card number and billing address. Canada Post is a real Crown corporation that delivers mail in Canada. The fraudsters have nothing to do with it.
The CAFC recorded a 310% increase in parcel delivery impersonation reports between 2022 and 2024. Losses from victims who clicked the link and entered payment details averaged $650 — but in many cases, the stolen card details are then used for larger charges before the victim realizes anything is wrong. The scam spikes every November through January when Canadians are expecting holiday packages and are less likely to question an unexpected delivery notification.
The texts are convincing. They use Canada Post's logo, red-and-white colour scheme, and a URL that looks plausible — something like canadapost-delivery.ca, can-post.ca, or tracking-canadapost.com. The real Canada Post website is canadapost.ca. Any text with a delivery link ending in anything other than canadapost.ca is a fake messages pretending to be from a real company (phishing) site. Do not click it. Do not enter your card number.
The same scam impersonates UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Purolator. The playbook is identical — urgent text, fake tracking number, small payment required, link to a lookalike site. The 'small fee' request is deliberate. Scammers have found that a $1.99 or $2.49 fee creates less resistance than a large charge, and victims often do not check their statements carefully for small amounts. By the time the fraudulent charges accumulate, the card details have been sold multiple times.
How does Canada Post actually notify you? Canada Post sends email delivery notifications only if you have signed up at canadapost.ca and opted in. They do not send unsolicited texts asking for payment. If you have a package held for customs duties, Canada Post sends a physical notice by mail, or you see the charge when you pick it up at the post office. You can always check your real tracking status by entering your tracking number directly at canadapost.ca — no link needed.
If you received a suspicious text: do not click the link, do not reply, take a screenshot, and report it to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501. Forward the text to your carrier's spam reporting number (7726 on most Canadian carriers). If you already clicked the link and entered payment information, call your bank immediately to flag the transaction and request a new card. Check your statements for unfamiliar charges over the next 90 days.
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Editorial note: This article reflects the state of publicly available information at the time of writing. Business practices, ownership, and safety records change over time. TrustChekr is not affiliated with any company reviewed here and does not receive payment for editorial coverage. Verdicts are based on documented evidence and are subject to revision.