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Alert: Fake missed-delivery and toll-road texts

3 min readReviewed October 2026 · Internet Safety Australia Editorial Team

In short

  1. Australia Post never texts links asking for payment or redelivery fees.
  2. Linkt and toll operators don’t demand payment by text link — check via the official app.
  3. The small “fee” is bait: the fake page harvests your full card details.

Two of the most persistent scam texts in Australia: the fake “missed delivery — pay $2.20 to reschedule” message impersonating Australia Post (and couriers), and the fake “unpaid toll — avoid a fine” message impersonating Linkt and other toll operators. They work because the amounts are tiny and the situations are everyday.

How the trap works

The link opens a convincing fake site. The “fee” is deliberately small so you won’t think twice — but the form collects your full card number, expiry, CVV, name and address. Some versions then trigger a fake “bank verification” step that captures the one-time code needed to start spending. Victims typically discover the theft days later.

  • Expecting a parcel? Track it in the official Australia Post app or website — never via a text link
  • Toll account? Check the official Linkt (or your state operator) app — real operators communicate in-app and by email to your registered address
  • A text thread can contain both real and fake messages — the thread proves nothing
  • Forward the text to 7226 (SCAM), report to Scamwatch, then delete
  • Entered card details? Call your bank’s number on the back of your card right away

Common questions

Where to report this

Report to Scamwatch

All types of scams — phishing, investment, romance, shopping, impersonation. Reports help track and disrupt scam activity.

Go to Scamwatch (leaves our site — official service)

Official sources for this guide

Reviewed October 2026 by Internet Safety Australia Editorial Team. Internet Safety Australia is independent and not a government website.