Misc Set up. sick joke or shipping label error

WiWatcher

Contributing Member
Received a package today from a major carrier. It was addressed to me and had the correct address. I was surprised as I only had one order out and that was on back order. When I opened it up I was very concerned because of the contents. They were, as my DS said, looking like something a pedophile or a predator would order. Immediately checked my account and nothing there on this package, also checked the CC and no charges. Contacted the seller and they had no record of ME ordering these items, stated it was probably a shipping label error, that they would investigate and to throw out the items. Being a bit paranoid contacted the local law enforcement, after talking to them they made it a matter of record, advised me to keep the package shipping label and throw out the contents. A bit unsettling in the least.
 

Wildwood

Veteran Member
You can get all that at WalMart...would be curious to know if it came from a chain store or small business. Do you have small children? Could it be a prank from someone you know? Could your order have gotten mixed up with someone else's?
 

TammyinWI

Talk is cheap
Thanks for posting this. I would have contacted LE, as well. Was there a return address on the label?

Will have to carefully vet all of my packages.
 

WiWatcher

Contributing Member
No return address or packing slip. No indication on address label as to sender. I am thinking came from shippers warehouse. Ok, it was Amazon. My theories, #1 sick joke from someone (either at warehouse or online order), #2 setup for unknown reason to report me later as a possible pediphile to make life "difficult" (we all have psycho's in our past, whether we know about them or not), #3 is the address label mistake (troubling that anyone would order that combo). Another thought is identity theft but if the package came here any billing should come here or Amazon should show a second account in my name so thinking that is low probability.
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
Oooo. I would start looking at my neighbors.

In all likelihood it was an address problem, but still. And it kind of weirds me out that LEO didn’t want the contents.

I can think of several reasons for that, but it is evidence. So why have you toss it?
 

Wildwood

Veteran Member
Is the order you have out from Amazon? That is not an unusual combo for a young married couple...I'm thinking address mix up.
 

WiWatcher

Contributing Member
Tossed it on recommendations of Amazon with concurrence of local PD, if a harassment/setup situation would not have perps fingerprints (just the warehouse workers) on it so useless as evidence. And the DS did mention might be for a "frustrated" single mom but still....
 

bethshaya

God has a plan, Trust it!
No return address or packing slip. No indication on address label as to sender. I am thinking came from shippers warehouse. Ok, it was Amazon. My theories, #1 sick joke from someone (either at warehouse or online order), #2 setup for unknown reason to report me later as a possible pediphile to make life "difficult" (we all have psycho's in our past, whether we know about them or not), #3 is the address label mistake (troubling that anyone would order that combo). Another thought is identity theft but if the package came here any billing should come here or Amazon should show a second account in my name so thinking that is low probability.
Or #4, they are using your address to send packages so they arent traced to the person and they watch your house and grab the packages before you do...and failed this time.
 

Heliobas Disciple

TB Fanatic
It could be a 'brushing scam'. They've were warning about it on our local news over the summer. I couldn't find a link to our news story but found this out of LA.

(fair use applies)

BBB warns of ‘brushing’ scam: Packages from Amazon, other retailers being sent to people who didn’t order
By Hyeji Suh
Published August 6


BBB warns of ‘brushing’ scam involving unordered packages from Amazon, other retailers
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for a scam in the U.S. that involves an unknown sender shipping boxes of unordered merchandise from online retailers, including Amazon.

LOS ANGELES - Have you encountered box loads of merchandise from Amazon on your porch that you didn’t order? Better not to touch them: A scam popping up in the U.S. could mean trouble for victims.

This scam, also called “brushing,” involves unknown senders shipping boxes of various, unordered merchandise from Amazon and other retailers. The boxes usually have no return address and the receiver typically has no idea who ordered the items.

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the companies are usually foreign, third-party sellers that send the items using the address they found on the website. Their intention is to make it appear as though the recipient wrote a positive online review of the merchandise and that they are a verified buyer.

These companies will then post a fake, positive review to improve their own products’ ratings to increase their sales.

The Better Business Bureau outlined the serious indications the brushing scams have for victims.

First, the fact that the companies were able to send the items could indicate that they hold personal information of the recipient, such as name, address and possibly phone number. If sensitive personal information is on the internet, it could be used for a number of fraudulent purposes.

Additionally, there are instances where “porch thieves” use other people’s mailing addresses and accounts, watch for the delivery of a package and steal it from the door before the resident retrieves it.

For victims of brushing scams, the BBB recommends directly notifying retailers, such as Amazon, who have strict policies against brushing and fake reviews.

Changing account passwords for online retailers and credit cards could further help prevent brushing scams.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
see also:
 

naturallysweet

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Check your credit cards. My mom had some weird orders that were billed to her from amazon from an unknown person's account, then shipped to her. It was pretty easy to get amazon to reverse the charges. The items were absolutely random. (Battery lights, those neck masks, a webcam that the dogs promptly chewed up.)
 

Krayola

Veteran Member
I would have been alarmed to get that stuff too. I would take photos of the contents before throwing it out, just in case you need proof later.
 

Rabbit

Has No Life - Lives on TB
This reminds me of something strange that happened to a friend of mine. One of her neighbors, someone she only knows as hello at the mailbox, asked to have a package for him delivered to her house. Naive as she is she allowed it. The box came he picked it up and I told her not to do that again.
 

vessie

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Or #4, they are using your address to send packages so they arent traced to the person and they watch your house and grab the packages before you do...and failed this time.
Just saw this thread and yes, this is one of the things scammers do.

They'll have stuff sent to other people's houses and then watch to see when it's delivered and then grab the package that THEY ORDERED.

So, I have to now wonder if it was a neighbor who was using you for their Amazon drop off and wanted to grab the package before you did.

They'd be close enough to keep an eye on your house and any packages that arrive, unless they were away from their homes at the time of delivery.

And Amazon would know Who bought the item and sent it to you.

They could easily put your name and address in their address section of their acct. or sent as a 'gift'. V
 

Doc1

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Received a package today from a major carrier. It was addressed to me and had the correct address. I was surprised as I only had one order out and that was on back order. When I opened it up I was very concerned because of the contents. They were, as my DS said, looking like something a pedophile or a predator would order. Immediately checked my account and nothing there on this package, also checked the CC and no charges. Contacted the seller and they had no record of ME ordering these items, stated it was probably a shipping label error, that they would investigate and to throw out the items. Being a bit paranoid contacted the local law enforcement, after talking to them they made it a matter of record, advised me to keep the package shipping label and throw out the contents. A bit unsettling in the least.


WiWatcher, I can't believe that you are that naive. You observed that your DS said that it was, "looking like something a pedophile or a predator would order"

The package was obviously sent by Hunter Biden ;-)

Best
Doc
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
That ain't no prank.

yeah that's a really weird package, and that's coming from me.

Plus you can buy quality dildos and vibrators from Extreme Restraints and not have to worry about what employees did to those items out on the shelves. XRT has a very tight hold on their shipping crew from what I understand. I've heard some pretty gross stories about what employees here do to them, locally, and umm no. Shop with a trusted source.
 
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