Customs Fee Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Customs fee scams are a type of government impersonation fraud where criminals send fake notifications about a package requiring a payment for customs or import duties, contributing to the $1.1 billion lost to impersonation scams in 2023 (FTC).
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How It Works
1
You receive an unexpected text message, email, or phone call that appears to be from a major shipping carrier (like USPS, FedEx, DHL) or a government agency like Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
2
The message claims your package is being held at customs and you must pay a fee, tariff, or tax before it can be delivered. The message creates a sense of urgency, threatening that the package will be returned or destroyed if you don't pay immediately.
3
You are directed to click a link to a fraudulent website that mimics an official tracking or payment portal. The site asks for your credit card details and personal information, which scammers steal. In other cases, you may be instructed to pay using unconventional methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer.
4
After paying, you receive no package and the scammers disappear with your money and personal information. The fraudulent website may also install malware on your device.
Red Flags
- Receiving an unsolicited message about a package you did not order or are not expecting.
- The message contains spelling and grammar errors or has an unprofessional tone.
- The sender's email address or the link's URL is a variation of a legitimate company's name or a random jumble of letters and numbers.
- Pressure to act immediately with threats that your package will be returned or destroyed.
- Requests for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps like Zelle or CashApp.
- The demand for fees comes from the seller directly after the purchase, rather than from the official shipping carrier.
- The alleged fee is for a vague service like "discreet shipping" or a surprise "tariff fee" not mentioned at checkout.
What to Do If Targeted
- Do not click on any links or call any numbers in the suspicious message.
- Go directly to the official website of the shipping carrier (e.g., USPS.com, FedEx.com) and enter the tracking number to verify the package's status.
- Never pay unexpected fees with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate carriers will not demand payment this way.
- Contact the seller directly using the contact information on their official website to confirm if there is a shipping issue.
- Report the fraudulent message. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) and report phishing emails to your email provider.
- If you paid, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to report the fraud and dispute the charge.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission, which shares information with law enforcement agencies.
- FBI IC3 — Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- AARP — Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 for support and guidance.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
Key Statistics
- Consumers reported losing $1.1 billion to business and government impersonation scams combined in 2023. — FTC 2024
- In 2023, the FTC received nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. — FTC 2024
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 880,418 complaints in 2023, with total potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion. — FBI IC3 2023 Report
- Reported losses to government impersonation scams reached $618 million in 2023, a significant increase from $497 million in 2022. — FTC 2024
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports a rising number of complaints where scammers use fake tariff or customs delays as an excuse for non-delivery and to demand more money. — BBB 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
A legitimate customs fee is typically handled by the official shipping carrier like FedEx, UPS, or DHL, who may email you a link to pay on their official site or require payment at the time of delivery. U.S. consumers are not typically required to pay surprise tariffs after an order is placed. Any demand for payment via gift cards or crypto is a scam.
No, government agencies will never call, email, text, or use social media to ask for money or personal information, and they will never demand a payment. Only a scammer will do this. If CBP is directly involved, any payment would happen through an official government site like pay.gov.
A customs fee scam specifically impersonates a government or shipping entity to demand a fake fee for a package that may or may not exist. A non-delivery scam is broader; it occurs when a buyer pays for goods or services that are never received. The customs fee tactic is often used as an excuse by scammers in non-delivery situations to extract more money.
Yes, customs fee scams are part of the larger category of government and business impersonation scams, which are increasing dramatically. The FTC reports that combined losses from these impersonation scams topped $1.1 billion in 2023, more than three times the amount reported in 2020.
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