So, you received a call from this number 03442480912
And now you’re wondering—was this call legitimate or a scam?
The funny thing about this number is that it is both legit and a scam. It’s what you might call a “Schrödinger’s number.” If you try Googling it, you’ll find reports on forums where people discuss spam calls. The majority of comments agree that this number is used for spam, as it often involves a caller with a heavy accent, speaking poor English, with lots of background noise—sometimes even children screaming in the background. The caller typically claims you owe customs duties for a DHL delivery.
If you haven’t ordered anything or aren’t expecting a delivery from DHL, you can safely ignore the call. However, you might still wonder how they got your number. On the other hand, if you are expecting a package from overseas, this call could be legitimate, and you may actually owe customs duties for your parcel. If you don’t pay these fees, your parcel will be returned to the sender.
The caller may offer to let you pay over the phone. I strongly advise against doing this. Instead, wait for a day—DHL will typically send you a text message from their official short number with a payment link. If you’ve previously allowed DHL to message you via WhatsApp, you may receive the message there instead.
In some cases, there is a delay between the call and the message arriving. This is because DHL operates in many territories, each with different rules, legislation, and IT systems. Since their goal is to deliver packages as quickly as possible, they sometimes attempt to contact recipients by phone first. Even though this number may not be listed on the DHL website, it has been mentioned in official DHL communications, such as their Twitter account. So, in many cases, this call is indeed from DHL.
However, it’s still important to follow safe practices. Do not make payments during the call. Instead, wait for the official SMS, click the link, and complete the payment online. The form will show the customs duty amount, including a standard processing fee plus the import duty based on the declared value of your parcel. You must pay these charges for DHL to proceed with delivery.
This process can be frustrating, particularly for those using an intermediary country to receive packages. Sometimes, you may end up paying import duties twice—once when the package reaches the intermediary and again when it is sent to your final location. Once the online payment is completed, the system will redirect you to a payment processor (such as WorldPay). After you pay, you’ll receive a confirmation and, soon after, a message with your delivery details.
DHL will not deliver the parcel until you pay the customs duty. If a caller from this number claims you owe money for a parcel that has already been delivered, that’s a red flag. Some scammers also threaten people with debt collection or even send physical letters demanding payment. If you receive such messages, do not ignore them. Call DHL directly using an official number to verify any outstanding fees. In rare cases, a scammer may have used your information to make fraudulent purchases, and you may need to report this to DHL or relevant authorities.
One last thing to keep in mind: calling this number may incur standard charges, so check your phone plan before returning the call. In most cases, though, this number is not a scam—it’s simply DHL trying to notify you of customs duties that need to be paid.
Stay cautious, verify information, and always use official channels for payments.