Parcel subcription scam

A parcel notification with a payment request for a small fee requires your credit card details.

An alleged parcel notification email contains a link to a page with a so-called subscription scam. Either you have to give your credit card details or activate a service on your mobile phone by sending a text message. The emails allegedly claims to come from well-known parcel delivery companies such as The Post, DPD or DHL.

Specific measures

• If you paid with your mobile phone, contact your mobile operator and request that they deactivate the service you subscribed to.
• If you provided credit card details, contact your credit card provider straight away. This will enable you to intervene immediately with your credit card company in the event of fraudulent transfers. As a rule, you can submit a claim to your credit card company for any expenditure that you did not carry out or did not intend to make.
  

Preventive measures

• Ignore parcel notifications that request the payment of an extra fee. 
• If in doubt and if you really are expecting a parcel, contact the relevant parcel delivery company and ask.
  

Effects and risks

• Stolen credit card details
• Financial loss
• Wasted time and energy
  

Further Information

• SECO has published an article and a brochure on online subscription scams:
  https://www.seco.admin.ch/seco/en/home/seco/nsb-news.msg-id-34118.html
• The Consumer Protection Foundation has also published a factsheet on subscription scams:
  https://www.konsumentenschutz.ch/themen/internet/sms-und-internet-abofallen-vermeiden

Last modification 23.02.2021