A customs duty email can be legitimate when a carrier is collecting import charges, but fake parcel-payment messages are also common. U.S. recipients should verify the tracking number, carrier, shipment details and payment portal before entering card or personal information.
An email or text demanding customs duty on a parcel from India should not automatically be treated as either genuine or fraudulent. Shipping companies can legitimately contact recipients about import charges, while scammers regularly imitate delivery companies and government agencies.
First confirm the shipment exists
Before clicking a payment link, check whether you are actually expecting the parcel. Copy the tracking number separately and enter it directly on the courier's official website or app.
FedEx says U.S. recipients of international shipments may receive an email or SMS containing access to its FedEx Import Tool for duties and taxes. FedEx also says recipients can receive invoices for outstanding customs charges.
Carrier procedures differ. DHL says it can pay customs charges on behalf of a receiver and then collect the amount through its payment system.
Be cautious of messages claiming to be CBP
A major warning sign is an unsolicited email supposedly coming directly from U.S. Customs and Border Protection demanding payment for a package.
CBP states that its officers do not send unsolicited emails regarding packages allegedly being held and do not threaten people to obtain payment. Legitimate CBP employee email addresses end in @cbp.dhs.gov.
USPS texts require extra caution
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns about “smishing” messages claiming a package requires action. USPS says customers who did not initiate tracking should not click unsolicited tracking links.
Messages demanding immediate action, requesting sensitive information, using unfamiliar web addresses or containing suspicious attachments should be treated cautiously.
Verify the charge independently
Do not rely solely on the phone number or link contained in the message. Instead, open the carrier's official website independently, enter the tracking number and check whether a duty or invoice is attached to that shipment.
A payment request arriving after delivery is not automatically fraudulent. FedEx currently advises that duty-and-tax invoices may be sent after delivery in some circumstances.
If the tracking number, sender, parcel details or amount cannot be confirmed through the carrier's official system, recipients should contact the carrier before providing payment or financial information.
