A partner I met online says a parcel for me is stuck at customs and I must pay. Is it real?
Almost certainly a scam. The parcel usually does not exist, and the 'customs officer' or 'courier agent' who calls you is part of the same scheme.
The story goes like this: the person sends you a box of gifts, sometimes with cash or gold inside. A few days later someone calls to say it is held at the airport and you must pay clearance, a fine or an 'anti-money laundering certificate'. Every payment is followed by a new fee.
Real customs charges are paid through official channels, not by MoMo to a private number.
What to do
- Do not pay any fee to a number or person who contacted you.
- Ask for the tracking number and look it up yourself on the courier's official website.
- Never pay to 'release' cash or gold that someone says is in a parcel.
- Check the partner's photos and number on Veritaza.
- If you have already paid, call your MoMo provider and report it to the police.
Frequently asked questions
- They sent me a photo of the parcel and a receipt. Doesn't that prove it?
- No. Photos and receipts are easy to fake or copy from the internet. Only a tracking number you check yourself on the official site means anything.
Want to know if there are warning signs about the person you're chatting to? Veritaza checks the photos, the messages, the number, the email address, the name and the ID document, for GH₵25.
Check a person