I got an SMS saying my parcel is stuck. Do I need to pay?

Do not click the link in that SMS. Open the courier company's official app or website yourself and check the tracking number. Legitimate couriers do not ask for payment into a personal bank account through WhatsApp.

Customs called saying there are drugs in my parcel. What do I do?

That is a common Macau scam pattern. Hang up and do not follow instructions to speak to the 'police'. If you are worried, go to the nearest police station yourself. The authorities do not ask for money over the phone to settle a case.

A gift from my online partner is stuck at customs. Is it real?

Almost certainly not. This is a common love scam tactic. The online partner promises a gift, then a 'customs officer' asks for tax or a fine. Do not pay, and keep the chat as evidence for a police report.

Guide

Parcel scams: packages and gifts 'stuck at customs'

A parcel scam is when someone posing as a courier or customs officer says a package or gift for you is held up and needs tax, a fine or a fee to be released. Some claim the parcel contains illegal items and then connect you to the 'police'. Do not pay through links or into personal accounts; check directly with the courier company.

How to report a scam →

Already transferred money? Call 997 (NSRC) now — 24 hours. How to report a scam →

Forms of parcel scam

An SMS or WhatsApp with a 'pay delivery fee' link to a fake website.
A call supposedly from a courier about a parcel containing drugs or fake IDs, then transferred to the 'police'.
A gift from an online contact that must be 'released' from customs.
An APK file sent as a 'parcel tracking app'.

Warning signs

You are not expecting any parcel.
Payment is requested into a personal account, not through official channels.
The amount keeps increasing.
The link uses a strange web address or one that is almost the same as the real courier's site.

How to check a real parcel

Check the tracking number in the courier company's official app or on its website by typing the address yourself, not through a link in a message. If import tax is requested, confirm directly with official customs or courier channels.

If someone claims to be the police and accuses you of a crime because of a parcel, that is a Macau scam pattern. Hang up.

If you have paid or clicked a link

If you entered card or banking details, contact your bank immediately. If money has been transferred, call 997 (NSRC). Acting quickly gives a better chance, but recovery is not guaranteed.

Frequently asked questions

I got an SMS saying my parcel is stuck. Do I need to pay?: Do not click the link in that SMS. Open the courier company's official app or website yourself and check the tracking number. Legitimate couriers do not ask for payment into a personal bank account through WhatsApp.
Customs called saying there are drugs in my parcel. What do I do?: That is a common Macau scam pattern. Hang up and do not follow instructions to speak to the 'police'. If you are worried, go to the nearest police station yourself. The authorities do not ask for money over the phone to settle a case.
A gift from my online partner is stuck at customs. Is it real?: Almost certainly not. This is a common love scam tactic. The online partner promises a gift, then a 'customs officer' asks for tax or a fine. Do not pay, and keep the chat as evidence for a police report.

Short guides to the scam tactics common in Malaysia, how to check bank accounts, phone numbers and licences, and what to do right away if you have been hit.