Beware of the Latest Courier Scam: How Fraudsters Trick You Using Call Forwarding Codes

Learning From My Own Experience:

Online shopping has become a daily habit for most of us, which makes courier-related scams one of the fastest-growing fraud methods today. Recently, many people have reported receiving calls or messages from someone pretending to be a delivery agent-claiming they are unable to locate the address and asking the customer to “dial a code” or “call a number” for verification.

If you’ve ever received a message like this, stop immediately.

*21*9876543210#

This is not a courier, and not a verification request.
It’s a phone call–forwarding scam designed to hijack your calls, intercept OTPs, and ultimately take control of your accounts.

How the Courier Scam Works:

1. The scammer pretends to be from a well-known courier service

You may receive a call or an SMS with a familiar-sounding name like “Blue Dart Courier Service,” “Delhivery Agent,” or “FedEx Delivery.”

They claim:
The delivery person cannot find your address
Your phone number is incorrect
They need to “verify” your number
You must dial a code to confirm delivery

This sounds routine—but it’s the trap.

2. They send a USSD call-forwarding code

Scammers often send codes like:

*21*<number>#

*401*<number>#

*402*<number>#


Dialing these activates unconditional call forwarding, meaning every incoming call to your number gets redirected to the scammer’s number.

3. Once they control your calls, they intercept your OTPs

With forwarded calls, scammers can:

Receive banking OTPs
Reset your WhatsApp or social media accounts
Break into UPI apps
Approve financial transactions
Impersonate you using your number

This is why this scam is extremely dangerous.

Why the Courier Scam Works

Fraudsters rely on:

Your expectation of receiving packages
The trust people place in well-known courier brands
Lack of awareness about USSD call-forwarding codes
The urgency created by a “delivery issue”

Most people have no idea that 21 is a call-forwarding command-making it easy for scammers to exploit.

How to Spot a Fake Courier Call

Red Flags

The caller asks you to dial codes like *21* or ##002#

The caller says they “cannot find your address” but refuses to give shipment details

The SMS comes from an unknown mobile number

The courier name appears only in the contact name (easily faked)

The caller rushes you or insists on “number verification”

A legitimate courier agent will never ask you to dial any code.

What To Do If You Receive Such a Call or SMS:

* Do NOT dial any code
Your phone is safe as long as you don’t activate call forwarding.
* Block and report the number
Check your real tracking status on the official courier website

Only trust tracking numbers provided by the merchant.

If You Already Dialed the Code:

Disable call forwarding immediately by dialing:
##21#

Then check whether any other forwarding is active:
*#21#

*#62#

*#67#

If anything shows “Forwarded,” cancel it using:
##002#

Also secure your accounts:
Change passwords
Re-verify WhatsApp
Check banking/UPI activity

How to Stay Safe From Courier Scams:

1. Never trust phone numbers sent by SMS
If needed, call the official customer support number from the courier’s website.

2. Always ask for the shipment tracking ID
Scammers will avoid giving it because they don’t have one.

3. Don’t share OTPs with anyone
Even if they claim to be a courier agent.

4. Educate family members
Especially elderly people or those unfamiliar with USSD codes.

Conclusion
If only they knew they chose a cyber safety advisor as their target—wrong pick, folks.
Courier scams are becoming more sophisticated, but awareness is your best defense.
If a courier agent asks you to dial a strange code, it is 100% a scam.

Stay alert, stay informed-and help others by sharing this information.

Dr. Jayaram Paul
Cyber Safety & Digital Awareness Advisor
Certified Digital Awareness Promoter (2024) by CIET · MoE · ISEA
CIET Certified Cyber Enthusiast (2023), CIET
ISEA Certified Cyber Hygiene Practitioner (2022, 2024), CIET · MoE · ISEA

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