Security advice
Attention: misuse of the GLS® brand for fraud
Internet and email fraud incidents are on the rise. Fraudsters are misusing the GLS name to send fake emails to both individuals and businesses. If you have received or are still receiving a payment request, do not comply with it under any circumstances. If you have complied with a payment request, we strongly recommend filing a report with your local police. GLS distances itself from such fraud attempts.
Here are some tips to help detect fraud and avoid being victimized:
- We do not transport cash (currency in legal tender), securities or bank checks.
- We do not intervene in economic money transactions, either between individuals or between companies.
- We are not intermediaries or depositories in the sale of second-hand products.
- We do not request payment details by email or SMS to create a customer account at GLS.
- We do not use online platforms dedicated to the sale of products to promote our shipments or services.
- We will never ask recipients by email to pay the purchase price of goods via an online payment system, credit card or bank transfer.
- In case you are expecting a parcel from outside of the United States, or if you are based outside of the United States, you may be contacted by GLS or an authorized agent to pay duties & taxes by email, SMS or letter.
Please be aware that GLS is not liable for any damage caused by the fraudulent actions of third parties who misuse our company's name. Your safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your vigilance in preventing fraud.
Known types of fraud and communication channels
There are a variety of different types of fraud on different communication channels, such as:
- Fraudulent emails
- SMS/ Instant Messengers
- Fake GLS websites
- Social media
We take a proactive approach to fraud and are grateful for any reports of fraudulent activity on behalf of GLS. Please let us know as soon as possible if you suspect you have received fake emails or SMS, or if a website or social media account is impersonating GLS, so we can take swift action to stop the fraud.
Please report any suspicious activity to our Information Security team at
We thoroughly investigate every report of suspected fraud, but generally do not respond to personal enquiries. If you have questions about the status of a shipment or invoice, please contact us
Fraudulent emails
GLS sends emails to customers only for related business needs like parcel shipping instructions or information about delivery status. GLS will never demand any payment by email using credit cards, online payment systems or bank transfers.
Indicators for fraudulent emails:
- Email subject that should build on pressure or threatens with consequences for the recipient.
- Spelling mistakes and informal speech.
- Sender addresses from @gmail, @gmx, @yahoo or other private email addresses, which are not originated from GLS.
To effectively combat fraudulent emails, send the suspicious email as an attachment* to security@gls-us.com . Of course, you can also provide us with screenshots, URLs to suspicious content, or other evidence which can be helpful to identify the fraud. Forwarding a message is often not sufficient because important email data will be lost. Therefore, sending the original email as an attachment is the most accurate evidence.
*Saving an email is possible with almost any email program or web service. Mostly there is an option "Save email as".
SMS/ Instant messages
If you receiving fraudulent messages via SMS or instant messages, please provide us with screenshots of the conversation, as well as the contact name and phone number of the person who sends you the message.
You can report fraudulent SMS and instant messages to security@gls-us.com .
Fake GLS websites
In the past, GLS has discovered several fake websites using GLS logos, names and content that are used by criminals to commit fraud against GLS customers and non-customers. These websites are designed to trick people to obtain sensitive data, such as login credentials or financial data.
The main website of GLS is gls-group.com . From this website, you can access the websites of each GLS country. Only this website and the websites to which it links are legitimate GLS websites.
If you are not sure whether a website is from GLS or not, you should check the following things first:
- Is the URL address of the website related to GLS?
- Is the connection to the website secured? There should be a “lock” sign in front of the URL.
- Does the website look professional? Are there spelling mistakes?
If a website seems strange to you, please report it immediately to security@gls-us.com by providing the link to the website. We will then carry out an investigation and take further countermeasures if necessary.
Social media
GLS US runs some official social media accounts, among others on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. However, you will always see a link to our website and an imprint on official social media accounts. Furthermore, we will never actively write to you via messenger, unless in response to your questions.
Below you can find some indicators to identify fraudulent social media accounts:
- The account is newly created or just a couple of weeks old.
- The account provides no official information or contact channels.
- The account has no reference to our main GLS website.
- The account attempts to contact you proactively via instant messenger.
- The account offers special gifts or reference to websites other than GLS.
In case you have doubt that a social media account is valid, please report the social media account to security@gls-us.com . If we confirm that the social media account is fraudulent, you can also report the account directly to the social media channel as fraud.
Further known types of fraud
Counterfeit parcel labels
Parcel labels to be filled out manually are currently being offered on internet sales platforms for shipping with GLS. These are counterfeit.
GLS is issuing a warning against the purchase of such parcel labels. The counterfeit-proof purchase of original parcel labels for shipping with GLS is only possible via the website.
Deception on the doorstep
Scammers in many areas have come up with a new trick to defraud unsuspecting individuals of cash. They ring the doorbell – wearing the uniform of a well-known delivery company such as GLS – claiming that they have a cash-on-delivery parcel, often also saying that it is for a neighbor. The content of the parcel later turns out to be worthless.
Please do not pay for unexpected cash-on-delivery parcels – neither for yourself nor on behalf of neighbours. Check whether the label on the parcel is genuine and whether your name and address, and those of the sender, are shown correctly and in full. If you have any doubts, it is better to refuse to accept the parcel or to contact the customer services department of the relevant service provider.
Warning about ‘parcel agent’ job offers
Criminals who order goods online using false identities and illegally-obtained credit-card data have recently increased their efforts to recruit so-called "parcel agents". The work is usually offered as a part-time job and involves accepting parcels and forwarding them to other addresses, often abroad. The aim is to hide the final location of the fraudulently obtained goods. Police are warning against accepting job offers as a parcel agent. This supposedly lucrative side job means getting involved with fraudulent activity and money laundering – with legal and financial consequences.
