If you’ve received a text saying your parcel couldn’t be delivered, asking you to click a link or pay a small fee — stop. It might not be from Evri at all. These aren’t simple delivery notifications. They’re phishing attacks disguised as updates from a known brand.
The Evri scam text has become one of the most common delivery-themed cyber threats in the UK. Thousands of people are affected each month. The texts look convincing, but they’re designed to steal your personal or financial information.
Whether you’re a consumer or a business sending legitimate delivery updates, it’s important to understand how these scams work and how to protect against them.
What Is the Evri Scam Text?
The scam involves fake messages claiming to be from Evri (formerly Hermes), a major parcel delivery service in the UK. These texts usually say there’s a problem with your package — a missed delivery, a customs fee, or a failed payment.
The message includes a link, often shortened or disguised, asking you to pay a small redelivery charge or enter delivery details. This is where the scam begins. Once you click the link, you’re taken to a fake version of the Evri website, where your card details or identity information is harvested.
This isn’t a rare occurrence. The Evri delivery scam text has been widely reported by police forces, cybersecurity firms, and the company itself. It’s an active, ongoing threat — and it keeps evolving.
Official Evri Guidance: How to Verify Legitimate Messages
Evri has publicly warned customers about delivery-themed phishing and clearly states how genuine messages work.
- Legitimate Evri texts usually come from a branded sender name like “Evri”, not random mobile numbers.
- Genuine messages focus on tracking updates, not payments or urgent actions.
- Evri does not ask for redelivery fees, customs charges, or address corrections via SMS.
- If a message feels suspicious, Evri advises customers to manually visit the official website or app instead of clicking links.
- Scam texts can be reported in the UK by forwarding them to 7726, helping mobile networks block future attacks.
How Do These Scams Work?
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the scam:
- You receive a text:
It might say something like, “Evri: Your parcel could not be delivered today. Please reschedule delivery here: [scam link].” - You click the link:
The link leads to a cloned version of the Evri tracking or delivery reschedule page. - You enter personal info:
The site asks for your name, address, phone number — sometimes your credit card. - Scammers use the data:
Once submitted, your information is either sold on the dark web or used directly for fraud.
In some cases, scammers follow up with more messages or phone calls, continuing the fraud through what’s called “phishing chains.” One variation even uses Vedaearth Evri WhatsApp messages — an emerging method for scam expansion using group messages and fake courier accounts.
Examples of Real Evri Scam Texts
Here are some text formats scammers use. If you see anything like these, do not click:
- “Evri: Your package is waiting for you. Pay £1.45 redelivery fee now: [fake URL]”
- “We missed your parcel delivery. Reschedule now: [spoofed link]”
- “Evri express delivery exception notification – click to avoid return.”
- “Please confirm address to release your parcel: [suspicious domain]”
These Evri scam text messages look professional. They might use branding, real addresses, or wording similar to actual company notifications.
How to Tell a Real Evri Message from a Scam (Quick Comparison)
This side-by-side comparison helps users quickly identify suspicious delivery messages before interacting with them.
| Feature | Legitimate Evri Message | Evri Scam Text |
| Sender | Branded sender name (“Evri”) | Random mobile number or spoofed ID |
| Language | Informational, neutral | Urgent, threatening, time-limited |
| Payment Requests | Never requested via SMS | Small “redelivery” or “customs” fee |
| Links | Official Evri domain | Look-alike or shortened URLs |
| Parcel Details | Often references tracking info | Vague or generic delivery claims |
What’s Different About the Evri New Scam Variants?
Scammers are evolving. In 2023–2024, we saw changes like:
- Use of HTTPS-secured phishing pages to appear safe
- WhatsApp group scams impersonating “Evri agents”
- Multi-stage attacks, where the first message links to a fake reschedule page, and the next asks for payment or ID upload
These newer tactics make it harder to tell real from fake. That’s why businesses must be proactive — not just reactive — in securing communication and educating staff and customers alike.
Why Delivery Scam Texts Are Becoming Harder to Detect
Delivery phishing scams are becoming more effective because they blend into everyday behavior.
- People now expect frequent delivery updates due to online shopping.
- Scammers use HTTPS-secured phishing pages to appear legitimate.
- Fake websites closely mimic Evri’s branding and mobile layout.
- Multi-step scams slowly build trust before asking for payment or ID.
- Messaging has expanded beyond SMS to WhatsApp, iMessage, and RCS.
As scams become more realistic, visual checks alone are no longer enough.
Key Red Flags That Instantly Expose an Evri Scam Text
Most Evri scam texts follow predictable patterns, even when they look professional.
- Messages create false urgency, claiming a parcel will be returned or destroyed.
- The text lacks specific delivery details, such as a valid tracking number.
- Links contain misspellings, extra characters, or unusual domains.
- Payment requests appear for very small amounts to lower suspicion.
- The message asks you to act immediately instead of verifying through official channels.
If any of these signs appear, the message should be treated as fraudulent.
What Businesses Can Learn from This?
If you’re running a B2C brand, eCommerce store, or delivery management app, Evri text scams pose more than a consumer issue — they’re a reputation risk.
Here’s what you need to consider:
1. Your SMS Gateway Might Be Spoofed
Scammers can fake the “from” number in SMS. If you’re sending real delivery texts through unsecured APIs, your messages could be confused with fakes — or worse, hijacked.
2. Redirection Tracking Can Be Compromised
If your business tracks link clicks or uses short URLs, make sure those links are hosted securely and redirect to verifiable domains.
3. Customers Will Blame You
Even if your system wasn’t breached, customers associate brand names with trust. When they receive Evri reschedule delivery text messages that look legit, they may assume you’re responsible.
What to Do Immediately If You Clicked an Evri Scam Link
If you’ve already interacted with a scam message, quick action matters. If you entered any card or payment details, contact your bank immediately so they can block transactions and secure your account. You should also change passwords for any affected email, shopping, or financial accounts to prevent further access.
Enabling multi-factor authentication wherever possible adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized logins. It’s also important to run a security scan on your device to check for malware or hidden threats that may have been installed. Finally, report the scam by forwarding the message to 7726 and then delete it from your inbox. Acting early can significantly reduce the risk of financial loss and identity damage.
Why Businesses Are Indirectly Exposed to Delivery Scam Texts
Delivery scams don’t just affect individuals, they exploit business communication systems.
- Customers associate scam messages with the brand name they see.
- Attackers imitate real delivery workflows and notification timing.
- Support teams face increased complaints even without a breach.
- Brand trust erodes when customers feel communication is unsafe.
This makes message security a reputation and infrastructure issue, not just a consumer problem.
Best Practices for Businesses Using Messaging or Delivery APIs
To avoid being part of the problem, businesses should:
- Use dedicated subdomains for message links
- Lock down access to internal SMS tools behind VPNs
- Monitor for spoofing or misuse of branded terms
- Encourage users to verify via your website or app
- Educate your support teams on what fake texts look like
- Add clear disclaimers in legitimate messages (e.g., “We will never ask for payment via text”)
- Why Access Control Is Critical for Message Infrastructure
- Most message-based phishing succeeds because systems are too open.
- Public dashboards and unsecured APIs increase exposure.
- Shared credentials make abuse harder to trace.
- Unrestricted access allows spoofing and redirection misuse.
- Limiting who can access message-sending tools significantly reduces phishing risk before messages ever reach customers.
How VPN Infrastructure Stops Delivery-Based Phishing Risks?
Let’s talk defense.
Phishing and message spoofing thrive on open infrastructure. Scammers use unmonitored endpoints, unsecured platforms, and public interfaces to deliver malicious links.
By using a VPN at the infrastructure level, you can:
- Restrict access to your message-sending tools and delivery portals
- Ensure only verified staff and devices can initiate customer communication
- Encrypt internal communications — especially with third-party CRM or order fulfillment systems
- Reduce the surface area for spoofing, scraping, or redirection abuse
How PureWL Helps You Control the Access Layer?
If your company sends delivery texts, email alerts, or push notifications, you’re now part of a wider phishing ecosystem. Whether you like it or not.
PureWL helps B2B and enterprise clients:
- Launch fully white-labeled VPN solutions for internal or client use
- Secure message-delivery APIs with access control and traffic logging
- Deploy VPN SDKs for secure integration into apps or portals
- Control who can send, receive, and access your message infrastructure
- Prevent phishing by ensuring only verified users access critical systems
You don’t need a security team to secure your message pipeline. You just need smart infrastructure.
Final Thoughts
The Evri scam text isn’t going away anytime soon. If anything, it’s getting smarter. The more it looks like a real notification, the more likely people are to fall for it.
Whether you’re protecting yourself as a consumer or safeguarding your business operations, one principle remains true: trust, but verify.
Use real contact numbers. Bookmark official sites. Lock down your systems. And if you’re building delivery or messaging tools — don’t leave your access layer wide open.
Want to keep your systems safe and your customer trust intact?