Delivery and Pay-on-Delivery Payment Scams
Pay on delivery feels safe, but scammers use fake riders, swapped parcels and fake payment confirmations. How buyers and sellers can protect themselves at the handover.
Pay on delivery is popular because it seems to protect both sides: the buyer sees the goods, and the seller gets paid on handover. Scammers have found ways around it.
Tricks against buyers
- Unordered parcels with a delivery fee. The box contains something worthless.
- Swapped parcels: a sealed box with the wrong or broken item, paid before opening.
- Fake riders collecting fees for "customs" or "insurance". See fake delivery messages.
Tricks against sellers
- Fake riders sent by the "buyer" to collect goods, who never pay.
- Fake payment confirmations at the door. See fake payment alerts.
- "Pay my rider first": the buyer asks you to pay a delivery fee to their courier.
Safe handovers
- Buyers: only pay for orders you placed; open or inspect where the courier allows.
- Sellers: use couriers you know, and confirm payment in your own wallet before releasing goods.
- Both: keep order details, rider names and receipts.
Never pay a fee for a parcel you did not order.
Related: accepting payments for online sales. For more, see mobile money and banking scams.
Frequently asked questions
Is pay on delivery safe for buyers?
Safer than paying upfront, but check the parcel before paying where possible, and pay the rider only for orders you placed.
How do sellers get scammed with pay on delivery?
Fake riders collect goods and never pay, or buyers claim payment was made using fake confirmations.
A rider says I must pay a fee to release a parcel I didn't order. Should I?
No. Unexpected parcels with fees are a common trick. Refuse and check with the sender or retailer.
Sources
- Online Shopping, US Federal Trade Commission
- How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Mobile Payment Apps: How To Avoid a Scam When You Use One, US Federal Trade Commission
