TL;DR: NZ Post says it never asks for personal or financial details by text or email, never emails from anything but nzpost.co.nz, never texts from overseas numbers (watch for +61), and doesn’t use WhatsApp. Genuine links go to nzpost.co.nz or nzp.st. Recent scams: high-volume SMS phishing (July 2026), "select a new delivery date" texts (December 2025), and WhatsApp "verify your address" messages (September 2025). Forward fakes to 7726.
What NZ Post never does
From NZ Post’s scams page:
- Ask for personal or financial details by email or text (passwords, card details, account info)
- Send email from a domain other than nzpost.co.nz
- Send texts from a phone number outside New Zealand
- Contact you on WhatsApp: "NZ Post does not use WhatsApp as a communication channel."
Real vs fake at a glance
| Real | Fake |
|---|---|
| Emails end in @nzpost.co.nz | Odd domains, often ".icu" |
| Links go to nzpost.co.nz or nzp.st | Look-alike links |
| NZ numbers | +61 or other overseas numbers |
| No WhatsApp | WhatsApp "verify your address" |
Recent NZ Post scams
| Date | Scam |
|---|---|
| 30 Jul 2026 | High-volume SMS phishing |
| 2 Dec 2025 | Parcel "couldn’t be delivered", link to select a new date |
| 19 Sep 2025 | WhatsApp: verify your address and transfer money for a parcel |
| 21 Jul 2025 | High-volume phishing emails |
| 29 May 2025 | Facebook scam |
| Mar–Apr 2025 | Emails linked to ".icu" domains |
Kiwibank also flagged an NZ Post text scam in August 2026 (Kiwibank’s list).
A small redelivery fee doesn’t sound like much. That’s the trick: the real prize is your card number.
How to report
- Texts: forward to 7726 (how), don’t click.
- Emails: forward to NZ Post’s reporting address (on its scams page), then delete.
- QR code scams: Police at 105.
- Facebook posts: report to Facebook.
Customs fees and "reschedule" links
Netsafe’s courier scam guide (updated June 2026) adds two patterns that hit NZ Post customers:
- "We tried to deliver": a link to reschedule a delivery that never happened.
- "Approve your pickup", then a small customs fee. Netsafe says people who paid later saw large unauthorised withdrawals.
On that second one, Netsafe is clear: New Zealand Customs does not contact individuals or businesses about paying customs duty. Licensed freight forwarders handle it. Any "Customs" text asking for money is a scam (more on that).
Netsafe also warns scams spike around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas. If you clicked a link on your phone, close the page, run a malware scan and call your phone company; a factory reset may be needed.
If you paid or entered details
Call your bank immediately and report to Police (105) and Netsafe.
Customs-fee versions are covered in our NZ Customs guide. A free exposure check shows if your number or email is in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NZ Customs text you to pay a parcel fee?
No. Netsafe says New Zealand Customs does not contact individuals or businesses about paying customs duty. Licensed freight forwarders handle imports.
Does NZ Post use WhatsApp?
No. NZ Post says it does not use WhatsApp as a communication channel.
What do real NZ Post links look like?
Genuine links go to nzpost.co.nz or nzp.st.
Does NZ Post send texts from +61 numbers?
No. NZ Post doesn’t send texts from numbers outside New Zealand.
Where do I report an NZ Post scam text?
Forward it to 7726.