Fake customs fees and held parcel

First assess what is being requested, which channel was used and what has already happened. Do not use the received link or imposed phone number as the verification channel.

Information updated : 2026-09-10

Editorial Trust

Last update
2026-09-10
Sources checked
2026-09-17
Content status
information published with visible sources and clear limits
Official sources cited
6
Editorial responsibility
StopArnaques

StopArnaques is an independent Belgian service. It is not a public authority and does not speak on behalf of the organisations cited.

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Why this page exists

  • The small amount is often used to get a card or a confirmation; the official tracking should confirm the parcel and the fees.

Common situations

  • parcel held by customs Belgium
  • customs clearance fee text message
  • pakket inklaringskosten
  • customs redelivery fee

What the scammer is trying to get

  • In cases linked to fake customs fees and a held parcel, the goal is usually to make you act before you have time to check: click, pay, share a code, or open access to an account.
  • Urgency, fear of losing the parcel, and copying a well-known organisation are used to lower your attention. None of these things proves the request is genuine.

Check through an independent channel

  • Do not start from the message you received. Open the official website or app yourself, or use a number already shown on a reliable document.
  • Compare the sender, the exact domain, the beneficiary and the action requested. One consistent detail is not enough if the rest of the process leaves the official channel.

What to do now

  • Do not pay from the SMS.
  • Check the official tracking.
  • Compare the fees with the carrier’s instructions.

If you have already interacted

  • Stop the exchange. Change the logins entered through the official app or website and enable two-factor authentication when it is available.
  • Contact your bank quickly if a payment, card, IBAN, code or confirmation is involved. Keep useful evidence for a report.

Scope of this hub

  • This hub covers low customs or redelivery fees requested by SMS.
  • The parcel and bpost pages explain the delivery process and fake tracking.

Sorting and urgency level

  • Check the tracking number, the carrier and whether the fees exist in the official channel.
  • Any card details entered should be reported to the bank quickly.

Limit of this classification

  • This hub does not confirm the identity or reliability of a contact. For this type, the first check remains this one: Check the tracking number, the carrier and whether the fees exist in the official channel.
  • A situation can belong to more than one type. Go to the file whose dangerous action matches the real case: The parcel and bpost pages explain the delivery process and fake tracking.

Limits of this page

  • This page does not prove that a message is safe and does not replace your bank, the police, Safeonweb, a platform or a public service.
  • A scam may be new, very well written or described with too little context. Use the result as decision support, not as absolute certainty.
  • Before taking a final action, checking through the official channel matters more than the appearance of the received message.

Check through an official channel

  • Type the service address yourself or open the official app. Do not use a phone number, link or QR code from the suspicious message to verify the situation.
  • When money, card details, a code or account access are involved, the safety action comes first. The analysis can then help organise the evidence.

How to read the result

  • A low number of signals does not mean that everything is safe. It only means that this page or analysis did not find decisive evidence with the information available.
  • Focus on the requested action: paying, sharing a code, installing an app, approving a bank action or leaving an official platform. That action matters more than a logo, sender name or polished wording.
  • If the situation feels urgent, step away from the received message first. Then check calmly through a channel you already trusted before the message arrived.

Belgian reading of this situation

  • For the customs-fee message, focus on the relevant Belgian next step: open the official channel yourself, contact the bank, use Safeonweb or preserve evidence.
  • The right decision for the customs-fee message depends on what has already happened. Reading a message is not the same as clicking, paying, sharing a code or granting remote access.

Customs-fee angle

  • This page is about customs, VAT, import declarations, clearance fees and parcels from outside the European Union. It should not be merged with every parcel or bpost scenario.
  • A legitimate fee can exist, but the payment path must be verified through the official carrier or customs-related channel opened manually.
  • Distinct markers include customs, VAT, import, clearance, non-EU parcel, declaration, duty, handling fee, border control and import notification.

Frequently asked questions

How do I recognise fake customs fees and a held parcel?

The small amount is often used to get a card or a confirmation; the official tracking should confirm the parcel and the fees. Look mainly at the action requested, the channel used and any pressure to act fast.

Can I check the message without opening its link?

Yes. Copy only the text, number or address shown in the detector. Do not open the link and do not scan the QR code to carry out the check.

What if the message seems to come from a real brand?

Go back to the service using your own route. The displayed name, the logo and even the visible number can be copied. Only a check in the official channel can confirm the request.

Useful official sources

Test a text message, email, call or link