Back to Delivery Reward Scam Shipping / Delivery

This is a version of Delivery Reward Scam in Shipping / Delivery.

Fake The Courier Guy text that asks you to pay a small delivery charge by card

A short message says your parcel is out for delivery or in transit and that a small delivery charge is due, with a shorturl[.]at link to pay. The link opens a page using the name and logo of The Courier Guy, a South African courier, that says your shipment is ready and asks you to pay a shipping fee within 24 hours. The page shows an "Economy Service" delivery of one parcel weighing 0.856 kg, a grand total of R 18.22, a "Pay by card" option for South African MasterCard and Visa cards and a "CONFIRM AND PROCEED TO PAYMENT" button. Two messages were reported from Gauteng, South Africa, on September 27 and October 11, 2026. The page uses the same layout as the RAM and Buffalo Couriers pages already recorded in this family.

Fake The Courier Guy text that asks you to pay a small delivery charge by card | Screenshot

What’s different in this version

These traits set this message apart from the usual pattern.

  1. Uses The Courier Guy branding, with its logo and "Quick quote", "Track my parcel" and "Log in" menu items, instead of RAM or Buffalo Couriers.

  2. Unlike the RAM and Buffalo Couriers records, the reports include the message that leads to the page: a short text with a rand amount and a shorturl[.]at link.

  3. The grand total on the page, R 18.22, matches the amount in the September 27 message.

  4. The fee table matches the RAM page in this family except for the base charge: R 3.00 base charge, R 5.50 waybill surcharge, R 6.30 fuel surcharge, a "Sub Total" of R 1.80 and VAT of R 1.62. The weight is the same 0.856 kg.

  5. The October 11 message asked for a different amount, R34.58. Its link opened a page titled "THE COURIER GUY - Confirm & Payment" that was almost empty when captured.

  6. The saved page's step links point to a file on f005[.]backblazeb2[.]com, a cloud file storage service, instead of a courier website. The payment button sends the form to a page named cc.html.

Other variations of this scam

Other reported versions of this scam.

Related scams

Other patterns in the same category, or that share a brand with this report.

How this scam works

  1. 1

    Step 1: You get an email or text that looks like a delivery notice with a link to ‘track,’ ‘confirm,’ or ‘reschedule’ a package.

  2. 2

    Step 2: The link opens a brand‑themed page offering a cash or gift reward if you take a short survey. A timer may count down to create urgency.

  3. 3

    Step 3: After the survey, the site asks for your name, address, and a credit/debit card to pay a small fee or ‘verify identity.’

  4. 4

    Step 4: Scammers may make unauthorized charges, enroll you in a subscription, or collect your personal details for future scams.

✓ Do this

  • Go directly to the carrier’s website by typing it yourself (for example: ups.com, usps.com, fedex.com, dhl.com, royalmail.com) or use the official app.
  • Use a tracking number you already have from a real order or the retailer’s order history.
  • If you weren’t expecting a package, treat the message as suspicious until you confirm with the sender or retailer.
  • Report suspicious delivery messages to the carrier’s fraud page and delete them.

✗ Avoid this

  • Do not click links, scan QR codes, or call phone numbers in unexpected delivery messages.
  • Do not enter card numbers or personal details to claim a ‘reward’ or pay a surprise ‘fee.’ Real carriers don’t offer cash prizes for deliveries.
  • Do not trust countdown timers, emojis, or pushy language designed to make you act quickly.
  • Do not assume a logo or colors mean the site is real—check the web address carefully.

Verbatim excerpts from the scam

Exact lines from emails or messages—searchable text so you can compare wording.

  1. 1 Excerpt 1
    Your [tracking code] PARCEL Is Out for delivery Today. Please Settle the delivery Charge of R18.22
  2. 2 Excerpt 2
    Your delivery [tracking code] is in transit. R34.58 is due, pay now
  3. 3 Excerpt 3
    Your shipment is ready for delivery, thank you for choosing The Courier Guy services. Please pay the shipping fee to complete the delivery within the next 24 hours.
  4. 4 Excerpt 4
    We accept South African MasterCard and Visa credit, and debit cards
  5. 5 Excerpt 5
    CONFIRM AND PROCEED TO PAYMENT