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To wonder who is sending me these gifts and want them to stop?

57 replies

TempANew · 26/08/2024 22:04

Is there a way I can find out via Amazon? Most of it is through there

I keep getting random gifts with a message like ‘A gift for TempANew :)’

No name ever left. Nothing sinister. Random stuff. Wash set. Clothes. Cutlery. Small gadgets. Toys for DC. DVD’s 🤔

It is strangely unsettling.

This is all within days. I opened the first thing excited someone had suprised me. But nobody has claimed to have sent all this stuff and it is wildly out of character for everyone I’ve asked to A. buy it all, of course B. Lie and not confess

OP posts:
HiFillyJonk · 27/08/2024 00:54

I got a random purple yoga mat sent from China that I didn't order. Over the coming weeks, multiples of the same mat arrived. I've never shown any interest in yoga and never got to the bottom of it.

Trumptonagain · 27/08/2024 00:25

Sloelydoesit · 26/08/2024 22:15

Isn't it so reviews can be posted?

Yes, could be this, it's been going on for years.
Sellers send items to randon people in the hope they'll review the products, it's in the hope of getting their ratings up and more future sales.

BrieHugger · 27/08/2024 00:17

Could it be from someone who’s sent you an Amazon gift before and forgotten to amend their primary address? I accidentally did this and had a few items delivered to my nephew, after I’d sent him a birthday present.

I can’t understand why Amazon don’t know who paid for the stuff, or is it more that they can’t tell you?

CoralKoala · 27/08/2024 00:07

How long have you been living in your house OP? Could it be a previous owner? Or perhaps a recently moved out house mate?

We had this happening to me and DH a few years back - received super random stuff from Amazon. It turned out the flat mate who moved out when I moved in forgot to change the address and got their stuff delivered to old address.
Looking at your list it sounds it could be an explanation if you have not lived in your place for long or someone used to live with you until not long ago.

Or perhaps a parent sending stuff to their child who moved in recently for uni but got the wrong address?

Hopefully a reasonable explanation and not some sort of scam

sunseaandsoundingoff · 26/08/2024 23:11

RunningJo · 26/08/2024 23:05

A friend of mine was a victim of identify fraud. They had various things arrive, including letters saying a credit account had been opened. All a bit of a faff to sort out closing them, returning items.

They were told of a scam that people order stuff to be delivered to someone else’s house, and before it gets to the letter box, the scammer intercepts it from the courier pretending to be the house owner.

All of this reported to action fraud and they were told about a website you can register on (they had to pay) whereby any credit agreement against your name and address had to be double checked.

Credit accounts can be opened very little info. They were also told to check their credit file with Experian.

So definitely report this to where they’re being sent from & I’d look to see if you can report to action fraud too.

What's the website please?

I had a similar thing happen, they bought thousands of pounds of jewellery and phones using my credit score and a fake bank account set up in my name and address (the only details they had for me).

TheClawDecides · 26/08/2024 23:08

Queenofheart · 26/08/2024 22:24

Omg this is happening at our house too! every day for about a week now, sent to my DSS! He’s 24 and getting weird things like a denture case, a ladies hairbrush, a tongue cleaner … all sorts, today he got a speaker, they’re not from his Amazon account and no money from his bank!?

he’s been online chat to Amazon and they don’t know.

strange

he’s been online chat to Amazon and they don’t know.

Well they should know.

They're the ones asking people to report brushing scams, which that clearly is?

RunningJo · 26/08/2024 23:05

A friend of mine was a victim of identify fraud. They had various things arrive, including letters saying a credit account had been opened. All a bit of a faff to sort out closing them, returning items.

They were told of a scam that people order stuff to be delivered to someone else’s house, and before it gets to the letter box, the scammer intercepts it from the courier pretending to be the house owner.

All of this reported to action fraud and they were told about a website you can register on (they had to pay) whereby any credit agreement against your name and address had to be double checked.

Credit accounts can be opened very little info. They were also told to check their credit file with Experian.

So definitely report this to where they’re being sent from & I’d look to see if you can report to action fraud too.

Stickytoffeepudding6 · 26/08/2024 22:44

Oh no very creepy even if it is a scam. Hope it stops x

ThisGreyPanda · 26/08/2024 22:41

We've had this and some very odd things arriving, dodgy vitamins, eye masks etc. As someone else said its probably a brushing scam. It was to do with boosting sales and posting fake reviews on Amazon via a profile linked to your address. Report it via your account.
Edited to say- don't use, it's often such poor quality /dangerous /cheap copies that they're struggling to be able to sell in the UK through normal means

TheM55 · 26/08/2024 22:33

Ah, probably mainly ignore my message, so many OP have had "brushing scam" that it must be a thing. I think I would quite like to be subjected to a "brushing scam" because I would not mind a few things for free, but I realise it must be unsettling. Hopefully between "forgetful person" and "brushing scam" you will get your answer. xx

intergalacticplanetary · 26/08/2024 22:29

As others have said, definitely look up brushing scam. I had all sorts of crap sent to me a couple of years back.

TheM55 · 26/08/2024 22:27

I got this, it was my sister lol ! Sent them when she thought of them (and was often / obviously a few wines in, forgot to mention it the next day, no recollection 2 weeks after !!!) Are you sure you have asked EVERYONE who is likely candidate (poor memory, drinks, alzheimers, feeling bad about not sending you stuff in the past etc. and newly loves Amazon) If you are absolutely sure there is no-one. Accept them, put them to one side unused and see how it goes and try not to worry. If you have a candidate for a stalker, then think of that too, although don't go into panic mode if you are clutching at straws. They cannot get into your house, it's a bloody odd thing for a stalker to do as well.

Secretriver · 26/08/2024 22:26

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54055669.amp

This explains the brushing scam, usually for relatively low cost items to enable the fake buyer (the manufacturer/seller) to post a good review. Do the items fit that kind of description? Very unsettling. Either way I’d report & then perhaps if not brushing Amazon can block for harassment. Hope it’s resolved for you soon.

Packages on doorstep

The 'brushing' scam that's behind mystery parcels - BBC News

There's been a rise in sellers buying and sending out their own goods in order to boost sales and reviews.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54055669.amp

Rosebud21 · 26/08/2024 22:24

Brushing as another poster said. I was unsettled too when when it happened to me, I've no idea how they got my address. It didn't stop when I reported it to Amazon, & it continued for a few months. I've read that sellers do it to generate fake positive reviews for their products

Queenofheart · 26/08/2024 22:24

Omg this is happening at our house too! every day for about a week now, sent to my DSS! He’s 24 and getting weird things like a denture case, a ladies hairbrush, a tongue cleaner … all sorts, today he got a speaker, they’re not from his Amazon account and no money from his bank!?

he’s been online chat to Amazon and they don’t know.

strange

TheClawDecides · 26/08/2024 22:22

Security and Privacy ›
Report Unsolicited Packages or Brushing Scams
Third-party sellers are prohibited from sending unsolicited packages to customers. If you receive a package that you did not order and is not a gift, report it immediately.
When a customer receives a package they didn't order, it may be a scam called "brushing". "Brushing" scams occur when bad actors send packages to publicly available names and addresses.

If you receive a package or item, that you didn't order, first confirm that it was not a gift that was sent to you and check with friends and family to see if they ordered the package. If you confirm that the package addressed to you, wasn't ordered by you or anyone you know, report the package online by going to the Report Unwanted Package form.

You can also contact Customer Service who will support you in reporting the issue to the investigations team. Please provide the following information:
Number of unwanted packages received.
A tracking number from at least one of the packages (found on the shipping label)
Photo of at least one shipping label (optional).
Any additional information to assist the investigation.

You don't need to return the item.
Amazon investigates reports of "brushing" and takes the appropriate action on bad actors that violate our policies. Amazon may suspend or remove selling privileges, withhold payments, and work with law enforcement.

Hardknocks · 26/08/2024 22:21

This happened to my mum but someone sent her a sex toy! She was entirely freaked out. Amazon couldn’t tell her where it came from or who sent it, so the mystery remains. I don’t know if she sent it back 😂😂

Pungifries · 26/08/2024 22:18

Screams stalker to me OP
hope you’re ok.
I would report and send back.

Createausername1970 · 26/08/2024 22:15

Morningcrows · 26/08/2024 22:10

This sounds far fetched but could someone want to bug your house and are putting the bug in a random gift? I watched a podcast of a private detective and they can do this.

If the gifts are coming direct from Amazon, then that would be unlikely.

But maybe they are mocked up to look like they coming direct from Amazon.......

To be honest, if I got one unexpected gift it would be nice but more than two or three then I would start to get unsettled. It's heading into stalker territory.

Sloelydoesit · 26/08/2024 22:15

Isn't it so reviews can be posted?

TowerStork · 26/08/2024 22:15

That's very strange. My first thought it whether it's some kind of scam but I can't imagine what.

If they are coming via Amazon is there any way to raise it with customer service?

Do you have any special birthday or event that someone you've forgotten has decided to celebrate?

Aquamarine1029 · 26/08/2024 22:15

Have you talked about wanting/needing any of these items with people?

cupcaske123 · 26/08/2024 22:13

Contact customer services and let them investigate, it's probably a glitch.

fingerscrossed27 · 26/08/2024 22:13

Hi, we had this happen to us random items from Amazon, nail clippers, black head gadget! And stuff like that, I found it fun at first but after a couple got worried as I think it's some sort of scam but I can't remember exactly what, I contacted amazon reported and got them stopped somehow I never got to the bottom of what it was!! This was a few years ago though