"Pay a small fee to release your parcel"
You get a message branded with a familiar courier — The Courier Guy, PostNet, RAM, the Post Office — saying your parcel is on hold and a small fee (often under R100) is needed for customs or redelivery. There's a link to pay.
The amount is small on purpose, so you don't stop to question it. The link captures your card details.
What to do: don't pay through the link. If you're actually expecting a parcel, contact the courier directly using the number on their official website. Couriers don't ask for import duties or bank details through an SMS link.
Threat examples
From:Buffalo-Delivery
Your parcel is held at our depot pending clearance.
Tap the outlined parts of the message to see the red flags
Your parcel is held at our depot pending a R45 customs clearance fee. Pay now to avoid return to sender: [link].