'Claim Your Unclaimed Package/Mystery Box' Scam
A message says you have an unclaimed package or won a 'mystery box' and must pay a small fee or take a survey to receive it — a data-and-billing trap.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You are told a package addressed to you is unclaimed, or that you won a mystery box of valuable goods, and you must pay a small delivery fee or complete a survey/offer to receive it. It blends the delivery-fee scam with the reward-survey funnel: the fee captures your card, and the survey harvests your data and enrolls you in charges. There is no package or mystery box.
What it usually looks like
- An 'unclaimed package' or 'mystery box' notice.
- A small delivery fee or a survey to claim it.
- A link to a non-official page.
- Urgency before it is 'returned' or 'given away.'
Common warning signs
- A fee to release an 'unclaimed' package you cannot identify.
- Surveys or 'offers' to claim a prize.
- Card details requested for a small fee.
- Unofficial claim links.
Example wording scammers use
“You have 1 unclaimed package. Pay the $2.95 redelivery fee to receive it: parcel-claim.net”
“You've been selected for a free mystery box — complete this survey to claim.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your card behind a small fee.
- Your data and 'offer' sign-ups.
- To exploit curiosity.
What to do
- Do not pay or click; verify any real package with the carrier's official site.
- Ignore 'mystery box' prizes requiring surveys or fees.
- Delete and report.
- Never enter card details for a small 'delivery fee.'
What to do if you already responded
- Dispute charges and watch for recurring billing.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Be alert to follow-up scams.