Australia Post Warns of Surge in ‘Darcula’ Scam Messages

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If you’ve received a suspicious text or email about a missed parcel delivery from Australia Post — you’re not alone. Australia Post is warning Aussies to watch out for a new wave of scams.

These phishing scams are impersonating AusPost and claim your delivery failed because of an invalid postcode. The messages look legit and often include links designed to steal your personal information.

Adam Cartwright, Australia Post’s Chief Information Security Officer, says the scammers are banking on how busy we are — and how eager we get waiting for packages.

“Scammers prey on busy lifestyles and the excitement and urgency in waiting for a package,” he said.

His advice?

“Don't click any links or reply to suspicious messages. If you’re expecting a parcel, the safest way to track it is through the official AusPost app.”

This latest scam is part of a bigger operation called “Darcula” — yes, like Dracula — a phishing service that lets scammers rent out tools to impersonate well-known brands, including Australia Post. The scary part? These tools are sophisticated enough to slip past many scam filters, making them harder to detect and block.

Aussies are definitely feeling it. Around 90% have received a scam text or call, and nearly three-quarters say it involved a fake parcel delivery.

So just to be clear:

• Australia Post will never ask for personal or financial info like passwords, credit card numbers, or bank details via call, text, or email.

• They also won’t ask you to make a payment over text or email.

Bottom line? If something smells off, it probably is. Stick to the official app, and don’t click anything that looks even slightly dodgy.

Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Sri Lankans.