Customs package scam

How It Works

The customs package scam is a widespread variant of romance fraud where the scammer claims to have sent the victim a valuable package that has become "stuck in customs." The victim is pressured to pay increasingly large fees to release the package, which either does not exist or contains nothing of value. This scam is often combined with military romance, oil rig, or engineering contractor cover stories.

1. The gift announcement: After building a romantic relationship, the scammer tells the victim they have sent a special package. Common claims include: expensive jewelry, a laptop, cash or gold bars, personal belongings, or important documents. The package is supposedly shipped via a private courier or diplomatic service.
2. The customs hold: Shortly after the supposed shipment, the victim receives a message (either from the scammer or from a "customs official" who is an accomplice) stating that the package has been detained at customs. A fee is required to release it.
3. Escalating fees: After the first payment, new fees appear: customs clearance tax, anti-terrorism inspection fee, insurance charge, storage fees, diplomatic handling surcharge, or anti-money-laundering certification. Each fee is accompanied by an official-looking document or email.
4. Threats and urgency: The scammer or fake customs agent warns that if fees are not paid promptly, the package will be confiscated, destroyed, or the victim will face legal consequences for the contents. This creates panic and urgency.
5. The never-ending cycle: The fees continue until the victim either runs out of money or realizes the scam. The package is never delivered because it never existed.

Signs to Detect It

These warning signs indicate a customs package scam:

• Someone you have never met in person claims to have shipped you a valuable package.
• The package supposedly contains cash, gold, jewelry, or other high-value items being sent through international shipping.
• A "customs official" contacts you directly (via email, WhatsApp, or phone) demanding payment. Real customs agencies do not contact package recipients to demand personal payments via messaging apps.
• The customs emails come from free email providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook) rather than official government domains.
• Official-looking documents contain spelling errors, incorrect logos, or unprofessional formatting.
• Each fee paid is followed by another unexpected fee. The total quickly exceeds the supposed value of the package contents.
• Payment is requested via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards rather than through the official customs authority's payment system.

Typical Example

Helen, a 62-year-old retired nurse in Brisbane, Australia, had been in an online relationship for four months with "Captain John Williams," who claimed to be a U.S. Army officer stationed in Iraq. John said he wanted to send Helen a "care package" containing a gold necklace, $10,000 in cash he had saved from his deployment pay, his late mother's ring, and important personal documents.

A week later, Helen received an email from "Global Diplomatic Courier Services" stating that a package addressed to her had been held at Sydney Airport customs. The email included a tracking number and a scanned customs declaration form. The agent, "Mr. David Brown," said a A$2,500 customs clearance fee was required to release the package.

Helen paid via bank transfer. Two days later, Mr. Brown emailed again: an anti-money-laundering scan had detected the cash in the package, and a A$5,000 compliance certificate was needed. Then a A$3,000 insurance fee. Then a A$4,500 diplomatic handling charge because the package originated from a military zone.

Over two months, Helen paid A$22,000 in fees. Each time she questioned the amounts, John would message her saying he was sorry for the trouble and that once the package arrived, he would repay her everything and more. Helen finally contacted Australian Border Force, who confirmed they had no record of any package in her name. "Global Diplomatic Courier Services" did not exist. John's photos were stolen from a real soldier's Facebook page.

What to Do If You're a Victim

If you have paid fees for a package stuck in customs:

1. Stop all payments: The package does not exist. No amount of fees will result in a delivery.
2. Verify independently: Contact your country's actual customs authority through their official website (not a number or email provided by the scammer) to confirm whether any package is being held in your name.
3. Cut off all contact: Block the scammer, the fake customs agents, and any other associated contacts on all platforms.
4. Document everything: Save all emails, messages, fake customs documents, transaction receipts, and contact details.
5. Report to your bank: Notify your bank of the fraud and request a recall of wire transfers if possible.
6. File official reports:
   • FBI IC3: ic3.gov
   • FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • Action Fraud (UK): actionfraud.police.uk
7. Report the fake courier company: If the scammer used a fake company website, report it to your country's domain registrar and to Google Safe Browsing for potential takedown.