MailGuard has intercepted a new phishing email campaign impersonating Australia Post. The scam claims a parcel is being held and urges recipients to confirm their details, leading them through a fake tracking and payment process designed to steal credit card information and SMS verification codes.
How the scam works
The email looks legitimate at first glance, but it directs users to a fraudulent website that mimics Australia Post’s tracking and payment pages. This scam leads victims through several steps designed to steal personal and financial information.
Step 1: The phishing email
Victims receive an email claiming their parcel has been held and that they must confirm their details to arrange redelivery.
The attacker is attempting to create urgency so the recipient clicks without questioning the message.
Step 2: Fake Australia Post tracking page
Clicking the button leads to a page styled to look like the official Australia Post tracking portal. It displays a held‑parcel message and prompts the user to continue.
The attacker is attempting to build trust by copying the layout and branding of the real site.
Step 3: Customs fee and payment request
The next page claims the parcel is “held pending customs clearance” and that a small fee (A$4.99) must be paid before delivery can continue.
The attacker is attempting to make the request seem routine by using a low‑value fee and detailed delivery information.
Step 4: Credit card capture
Clicking “Pay and release parcel” takes the victim to a fake payment portal requesting full credit card details, including name, card number, expiry date and security code.
The attacker is attempting to steal complete payment card information for fraudulent use.
Step 5: SMS verification request
The final page asks the victim to enter a 6‑digit SMS code to “verify” their identity.
The attacker is attempting to capture one‑time SMS codes. Victims cannot proceed beyond this point.
This campaign uses a multi‑step flow that feels like a normal parcel‑tracking and customs‑clearance process, while silently collecting sensitive financial and authentication data.
Key indicators of the threat
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Sender address planning_cc@scarlet.be is not associated with Australia Post
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Subject lines follow a “Your package has been held\[DD‑xxxxxx‑Dxxxx]” pattern
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The “Continue” button uses a shortened URL that redirects to colom‑envis‑3[dot]com
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Phishing pages are hosted on a non‑Australia Post domain rather than auspost.com.au
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Requests for full credit card details to pay a small “customs processing fee”
- SMS verification page requesting a 6‑digit code, potentially usable to bypass MFA
Why this matters for businesses
This campaign is particularly dangerous for organisations where staff regularly receive parcel notifications. A successful compromise can allow attackers to:
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Steal payment card details used for business purchases or shared corporate cards
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Capture SMS verification codes that may be reused to access banking, email or other critical systems
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Use stolen data to impersonate staff in social engineering and BEC attacks
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Target the organisation with further phishing attempts using harvested information
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Build detailed identity profiles that can be exploited for broader account takeovers
Even when the email targets a personal parcel, the overlap between personal and work devices, email addresses and authentication methods means a single successful phish can quickly become a business‑wide risk.
Stay Safe, Know the Signs
MailGuard advises all recipients of these emails to delete them immediately without clicking on any links. Responding or providing personal details can lead to identity theft, data breaches, and financial losses.
Avoid emails that:
- Aren’t addressed to you personally.
- Are unexpected and urge immediate action.
- Contain poor grammar or misses crucial identifying details.
- Direct you to a suspicious URL that isn’t associated with the genuine company.
Many businesses turn to MailGuard after a near miss or incident. Don't wait until it's too late. Reach out to our team for a confidential discussion by emailing expert@mailguard.com.au or calling 1300 30 44 30.
One Email Is All That It Takes
All that it takes to devastate your business is a cleverly worded email message that can steal sensitive user credentials or disrupt your business operations. If scammers can trick one person in your company into clicking on a malicious link or attachment, they can gain access to your data or inflict damage on your business.
For a few dollars per staff member per month, you can protect your business with MailGuard's specialist AI-powered, zero-day email security. Special Ops for when speed matters! Our real-time zero-day, email threat detection amplifies our client’s intelligence, knowledge, security and defence. Talk to a solution consultant at MailGuard today about securing your company's inboxes.
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