Courier scams in India: fake customs calls, “digital arrest” and OTP tricks

Courier scams in India range from a small fake delivery fee to frightening calls from people claiming to be police. They work because most of us are expecting a parcel at some point, and because fear and urgency make it hard to think clearly. Here are the main patterns, and how to respond.

The “drugs in your parcel” call

This is the most serious version. It often begins with an automated call about an undelivered parcel, or a call from someone claiming to be with a courier such as FedEx. You’re told that a parcel in your name has been stopped and contains drugs, fake passports or other illegal items.

You’re then transferred to someone posing as police, CBI, customs or another agency. They may use video calls, uniforms and official-looking documents. They might tell you that you’re under “digital arrest”, that you can’t tell anyone, and that you must move money to clear your name.

Dial-a-code tricks

A caller who claims to be a delivery agent says you need to dial a code to confirm your address or reschedule a delivery. Rajasthan Police have warned about codes such as *401* followed by a number. These can forward your calls to the scammer, including calls that banks and other services use to verify your identity.

Never dial a code because a stranger told you to. If you think you’ve done this, contact your mobile network straight away and turn off call forwarding. You should also tell your bank.

Fake fees and links

A text or WhatsApp message says that your parcel is held because of an incomplete address or a small unpaid fee. The link leads to a page made to look like India Post or a courier, which asks for your card details, UPI PIN or OTP. Our guide to scam messages explains the warning signs.

Remember that you never need to enter your UPI PIN to receive money or to track a parcel.

OTP requests

Many genuine deliveries use a one-time password, or OTP. The difference lies in how it’s used:

• Safe: you give a delivery OTP in person, when the parcel you ordered is in front of you.
• Not safe: someone asks for an OTP over the phone, says it’s to “reschedule” or “cancel”, or asks you to open a link to get it.

Read each OTP message before you share it. If the message mentions a bank, a payment or a login, don’t share it with anyone.

Parcels you didn’t order

Sometimes a cash-on-delivery parcel arrives that nobody at home ordered. Scammers can use names and addresses from leaked or bought data to send low-value items and collect payment at the door.

• Ask everyone in your household if they ordered it.
• Check your accounts for the order. If it isn’t there, you can refuse the parcel.
• Don’t pay in order to “find out” what it is.

Fake helpline numbers

Searching for a courier’s customer care number can bring up fake numbers, sometimes on sites or ads that look official. A scammer on the other end may ask you to install a screen-sharing app, or pay a “small verification fee”.

Take contact details only from the courier’s official website. Our courier directory links to official sites. We don’t run any helpline, and we never contact people about their parcels.

What to do if you’re targeted

1. End the call or chat. You don’t need to stay on the line. Real officials don’t need you on a video call.
2. Talk to someone you trust. Scammers often insist on secrecy, because a second opinion ends the scam.
3. Check independently. Enter your tracking number on the courier’s official website, or call your local police station on a number you’ve found yourself.

If you’ve lost money or shared details

Act quickly, because time matters. It isn’t your fault: these scams fool careful people.

• Call 1930, the national cybercrime helpline, and report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
• Call your bank on the number from your card or official app, and ask it to block anything that’s been compromised.
• Change any passwords you shared, and remove any app you were told to install.
• Save your evidence, including phone numbers, screenshots, payment references and links.

Where else to report

• Report suspicious calls and messages through the government’s Sanchar Saathi portal.
• For a genuine dispute with a shop or courier, rather than fraud, contact the National Consumer Helpline on 1915.
• Tell the courier whose name was used. Many have a fraud page on their official website.