Let’s see what people who don’t want to live honest lives are up to this week, shall we? The delivery scam is a new one making the rounds in the UK, so it’s a matter of time until we hear about it on this side of the pond because it works.
This is what happens. You receive a package you didn’t order from Amazon or another online retailer. It’s expensive and in-demand, like brand new smartphones. There’s a knock at the door. Someone wearing an official-looking badge asks for the package, saying it was sent to the wrong address. You hand it over. Later, you realize it’s been charged to you. The happy scammer gets away with it.
You only get a personal visit if they’ve been unable to intercept the delivery without you even knowing about it. It’s a variation on snatching deliveries from your porch. This time, the thief is also who placed the order.
Someone has gained access to your account or credit card info and used it to make the purchase. You’re not aware of it so naturally, you think it’s a mistake when the stuff arrives. When someone with confidence comes to your door and says they’ll make it right, the solution seems easy. And that’s how they get you.
What should a person do? Contact the retailer. Don’t give up the envelope or box until you’ve been advised about sending it back the proper way. Otherwise, the charges won’t be reversed.
This scam can be a consequence of identity theft but it doesn’t always mean your identity was stolen. Sometimes, the creeps just get lucky. This is another reason why tech types continue to remind us to use strong passwords and to not input sensitive info while using Wifi. And sometimes there’s nothing we can do to prevent it. These arse-hats are good at what they do, and they wouldn’t do it if we could all prevent it.