Cash-on-delivery scams: paying on receipt is no guarantee
A fraudulent shop may send cheap or completely different goods. Sometimes a cash-on-delivery parcel arrives that you never ordered. Check the order, sender and amount before paying.
What happened?
A fraudulent offer, unordered delivery and incorrect contents call for different responses. Choose the option matching your situation.
I did not order the parcel
A courier or collection point wants payment, but you know of no matching order.
View the steps →The contents do not match my order
You ordered the parcel, but it contains different, worthless or much poorer-quality goods.
View the steps →I paid for the order in advance
The goods did not arrive, the shop is unresponsive or the delivery differs substantially from the offer.
View the steps →I am considering a purchase
You found an unfamiliar shop, a large discount or a social-media advert.
Check the shop →How a fraudulent cash-on-delivery order works
Paying on receipt creates a feeling of safety. You may still have to pay before seeing the contents, and only investigate the seller after opening the parcel.
How to recognise a risky shop
One warning sign alone may not prove fraud. An anonymous operator, implausible discount, urgency and unverifiable contacts together are a reason to stop the purchase.
Unrealistic discount
The price is far below other sellers or the site claims to be a known brand’s closing-down sale.
Limited-time offer
Countdowns, “last items” and imminent price rises discourage checking the shop.
Unclear operator
The company, registration details or address are missing or cannot be verified through appropriate official records.
Missing terms
Complaints, returns, the return address and sales terms are unclear.
Inconsistent language
Odd wording, different shop names or passages copied from other sites.
Poor contact information
Only a form, generic email or non-working phone number is available.
No independent reviews
Reviews appear only on the shop itself or no customer experiences can be found.
New or short-lived domain
The shop may appear just before an advertising campaign and disappear soon afterwards.
Why cash on delivery is not automatically safe
Cash on delivery reduces some risks of paying a shop that sends nothing. It does not establish the seller’s identity, the parcel’s value or conformity with your order.
You may not see the contents before payment
With many services, the parcel is opened only after payment. Check the specific carrier’s terms.
The sender can be unclear
The label may show a logistics company, abbreviation, overseas business or incomplete information.
Someone else may accept it
A household member may assume the parcel matches a genuine order.
Recovering money may be difficult
The carrier transported the parcel; the actual seller may be hard to identify.
What to verify before accepting a cash-on-delivery parcel
A courier at your door or parcel in a locker is no reason to pay without checking. If uncertain, pause acceptance and verify it through the carrier’s official channel.
Check your email, order history and official delivery information.
Compare it with the order confirmation and final price.
An unfamiliar, incomplete or odd sender warrants caution.
A genuine purchase should be traceable in your email or customer account.
Verify directly with the person before accepting and paying on their behalf.
What to do after arrival or payment
Keep the parcel, label, payment receipt and conversation. Choose the steps for an unordered delivery, wrong contents or advance payment.
I did not order the parcel
- Do not accept or pay for the unordered parcel.
- Check with other household members.
- Record the sender, carrier and tracking number.
- Do not contact the sender through a suspicious text or email link.
- For repeated suspicious deliveries, inform the carrier and consider reporting the suspected fraud.
I ordered, but the contents are wrong
- Keep the packaging, label and payment receipt.
- Photograph the parcel, contents and any damage.
- Save the order confirmation, offer and advert.
- Contact the seller in writing.
- Ask the carrier for available shipment information.
- Report suspected fraud to your local police.
I paid by card in advance
- Contact the shop and keep all correspondence.
- Save payment and order confirmations.
- Ask your bank about disputing the card transaction and any applicable deadlines.
- Explain whether goods never arrived or differ substantially from the offer.
- Do not pay a further “release”, “refund” or “delivery” fee requested through suspicious correspondence.
I already paid cash on delivery
- Act without unnecessary delay.
- Keep the whole parcel, packaging and payment receipt.
- Contact the carrier and ask it to identify the shipment.
- Save the shop’s domain, advert and contact information.
- Contact the seller in writing.
- Report suspected fraud to local police.
Lost money or shared card details?
Contact your bank using its official number and follow DPP’s immediate response guidance.
The seller may be unclear or impossible to find
The carrier is not necessarily the seller, and the label may use a different name from the shop. Missing identification and complaint details make the situation harder.
Unknown or overseas operator
A shop may look local but be operated abroad or provide no operator information at all.
Missing return address
The shop provides no usable complaints address or sends only automatic replies.
External logistics company
The sender on the label may only be a warehouse, delivery partner or payment-collection intermediary.
Short-lived domain
The website may disappear after an advertising campaign, change its name or reappear on another domain.
What to keep
Keep relevant materials while a dispute or report may still need them.
Parcel and contents
Photos of the unopened parcel, opening, contents and any differences.
Delivery information
Label, tracking number, sender, carrier and payment amount.
Payment receipt
Confirmation of cash-on-delivery payment, card transaction or bank transfer.
Order
Order confirmation, item name, price and promised delivery terms.
Advert and shop
Screenshots of the advert, product, domain, terms and contact details.
Communication
Emails, forms, automatic replies and correspondence with the shop or carrier.
Cash-on-delivery scams — FAQ
Should I accept a cash-on-delivery parcel I did not order?
Do not pay for an unordered or unverified parcel. First check whether someone in your household placed the order.
Is cash on delivery safer than advance payment?
It protects against some cases where a shop takes payment and sends nothing. It does not verify the contents, value or seller’s identity.
Can I open the parcel before paying?
That depends on the carrier and service. With many standard cash-on-delivery services, payment comes before opening. Verify the terms in advance.
What if someone else in my household accepted it?
Keep the packaging, label and receipt. Establish who placed the order and follow the steps for an already paid unordered delivery if necessary.
What if the contents do not match my order?
Document the parcel and contents, keep the packaging and order, and contact the seller in writing. Report suspected fraud.
Can the bank refund a card payment?
Ask the bank about disputing the transaction. The outcome depends on the payment, evidence and applicable card-scheme and bank rules. This does not apply automatically to cash paid to a courier.
Where can I report a fraudulent shop?
Depending on the situation, contact your bank, carrier, local consumer authority or police. You can also send a report to DPP.
How do I identify the shop operator?
Check the terms, contact page, registration details, relevant official records, domain history and independent reviews. Missing operator information is a major warning sign.
Found a fraudulent shop or unordered cash-on-delivery parcel?
Keep the domain, advert, contacts, parcel label and a brief description. A DPP report does not replace contacting your bank, carrier, consumer authority or police. DPP’s form and the linked Czech resources are currently in Czech.