FedEx "Customs Fee $3.99" Text Scam — International Package Phishing
FedEx international customs hold — $15–$50 fee range matches real customs amounts
FedEx International: Your package is held at customs. A clearance fee of $3.99 is required for release. Pay now to avoid return: fedex-customs-clearance.com
SMS
Confirmed scam
International FedEx shipments do sometimes have customs fees — making this scam plausible for recipients awaiting imports.
Typical victim loss: $50–$500
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024 — delivery/fee fraud median $180
First seen
Sep 2024
Category
Delivery
Attack vector
SMS
Trigger
Panic / Urgency
3 red flags in this message
Micro-customs fee
Same psychology as toll scams — small amount reduces suspicion while capturing full card details.
Fake domain
FedEx customs documentation goes through fedex.com/en-us/customs-tools.html only.
SMS customs demand
Customs fees are handled at delivery or through official customs authority notices — not carrier SMS.
What happens if you click
Card details stolen via fake customs payment form.
Small customs 'fee' is cover for full card cloning.
Other versions of this message
Scammers rotate wording to bypass spam filters. All variations lead to the same outcome.
FedEx: International shipment requires customs payment of $4.50. Pay within 24h.
FEDEX CUSTOMS: Package held. Small duty fee required. Release your shipment: fedex-duty-pay.net
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Fake FedEx domains used in this scam
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Frequently asked questions
Does FedEx charge customs fees via SMS?+
No. FedEx International manages customs via your shipper, the official customs authority, or through notifications in your FedEx account — never via text payment links.
Who actually collects customs duties in the US?+
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They send formal notices — not SMS. FedEx may notify you of required duties but directs you to CBP or your shipper.
How do I check real FedEx customs status?+
Log into fedex.com with your tracking number. All customs holds are visible in your shipment details.
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Check your message →First documented: September 2024
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel 2024 — delivery/fee fraud median $180
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