A text about my delivery ended with my card drained

I was waiting for a delivery and checking tracking obsessively, so when a text mentioned my package and a small fee to reschedule, it landed at the right moment.

The sender ID looked close enough to a carrier I use.

The message linked to a page with tracking-style graphics and asked for card details to “confirm redelivery.”

I entered them and went back to work; within an hour fraud alerts pinged for purchases I had not made.

Delivery smishing times texts to people who are already expecting boxes; the site harvests card data for card-not-present fraud.

My bank reversed some charges, but I still had to cancel the card and rebuild autopays.

While I filled out the form I told myself a two-pound fee was normal and that clicking was faster than calling the depot.

When I opened the real carrier app, there was no fee and no alert about my shipment—the text had been a parallel script.

The lost time on disputes and new card details was draining; I felt stupid every time another subscription failed until I updated every merchant.

I never pay or “verify” delivery issues through links in texts.

I use the carrier’s app or I type their known URL.

• Ignore delivery fee links in SMS; check status in the official app or site.
• Report smishing to your carrier and 7726 (US) where supported.

For more help, see our Report a scam page and Spot and avoid scams guide.