Is this a scam?

[LittleEntrepeneur]

In the run up to Christmas, I ordered a few presents online for DD. As they arrived, we hid them away and unboxed and wrapped them when we got the opportunity then discreetly disposed of the boxes. DH and I didn’t buy presents for each other or DS online so all were DD’s.

On Christmas morning, DD opened all her gifts that we had bought her. However, one of the gifts clearly wasn’t for her. It was a very expensive item for an adult. To begin with, I thought DH had bought it for me, but he just looked blankly at me and said he hadn’t bought it. He did remember wrapping it, however. It is not clear from the box what was inside so that kind of makes sense.

I Googled said item and it was worth more money than DH would ever pay. It was a truly luxury item.

I put in a cupboard and forgot about it. Then last week when we were out, a woman knocked at our door saying that the parcel was hers. DS didn’t let her in but did take her number.

I called her when I got home and asked her which address it should have been sent to. Her address is miles away from us! How could this happen? Could it be a scam? How did they even get our address?

I’m happy to hand over the parcel but I am feeling very uneasy about it.

Seems similar to this: www.herts.police.uk/news-and-appeals/warning-to-residents-after-series-of-delivery-scams-0066

Maybe she stole a card, ordered stuff to random houses and then goes and collects things off people!

Were all the things you ordered for DD delivered as expected? (Ie you weren't sent the wrong item for one order)? Have you checked against your email receipts?

If so, and this was an "extra" item, do you not keep any paper receipts from the boxes in case of returns etc?

The fact the woman knew your address is dodgy. How would she have found this out - if there is email correspondence she should let you see it.

We had a big parcel arrive at our house a couple of years ago at Christmas. It was from a company I wouldn't have ordered from . It was my address but someone else name. Turns out someone down the road had just picked the wrong house number from the drop down menu when she put her postcode in.

Maybe something similar Happened here. She out the right house number but wrong postcode?

Is she ordered from her account that exains why she would know the delivery address.

I'd be tempted to say you'd like the company name so you can check it out yourself before handing it over.

Scam
Total scam.

We had it about two years ago.
A mobile phone, top of the line iPhone no less, turned up, I was getting a few bits in for a birthday party for DP so thought it was one of those parcels.
Wasn't signed for just given to me by the delivery driver.
Got it ondoors opened it and iPhone. All the paper inside said it was ordered to our address. Not our name though.
I contacted the police who told me pack it back up and take it to the post office to be returned. We lived ages away from the main post office though so I put it to one side as I was planning a journey to the main town the next week.
Two days after, got a knock at the door. Young skinny fella in a cap.
"Yeah, can I have my iPhone please".
I said, what's your name and why did you have it sent here? "Oh, I lived here until last year and it didn't update my delivery".
I knew that was bullshit as we had lived here for a lot longer.
So I said, no sorry I don't feel comfortable, I will be sending it back.
He got very aggressive, shouting at me to give him his effing phone.
I shut the door and called the police.
Turned out, they were knowingly getting things delivered to houses on higher purchase, with good rating, collecting them as an "error" in sending and then not paying. It's then been delivered to your address which gets the black mark.
Be wary. If you were buying a luxury, expensive item you'd check and double check the address. If this address she gave sounds nothing like yours that's what she's up to
Send it back or hand it to the police.

Definitely weird that she got your address...

I think it’s a scam, she will have ordered the items with stolen credit card details.

Could be that the company are claiming it was delivered with photo proof and she's hunted down your front door.

If it's an expensive item and company are refusing to refund then she'll have a big incentive to find you.

If I were her then I'd be a bit suspicious of your motives since youre claiming to have taken in a parcel that presumably wasnt addressed to you yet didnt bother telling the company.

Definitely scam

Is it a similar address or postcode but in a different village?

23 High street, Anyvillage, near Anytown RG2 3HP

23 High Road, Anytown, RG23 0HP

It happens around where we live quite a lot - particularly when new builds are involved.

How did this woman even know about the item?

@Tiktokersmiracle this OP!

Yep - sounds like a variation on the mobile phone scam. Return it to the company it came from.

@Tiktokersmiracle That’s really interesting. She sent me the receipt and it is our address. I asked her for her address and it is completely different. Not only that but I had a look on Streetview and it’s a dump! I don’t get how she could afford such an item living there. Sorry no offence intended.

If youve got the receipt now then send it back to the company and let them sort it.

Really weird
What explanation does she give for it being your address on the receipt?

I think as it’s your address so it wasn’t the company or the delivery company’s mistake, then it all sounds very fishy and I would be returning it to the company. Shame you don’t have the original delivery note but I’m sure you can still return

WHAT IS IT?

My guesses are leather goods or electronics.

Tiktokersmiracle has it right, I have heard of this before. Send it back.

Actually thininhg about it, it's quite easy to create a false receipt or change an existing one as they are usually sent electronically so you with a little effort you can change a document even if it a PDF to show anything you like.

[quote LittleEntrepeneur]@Tiktokersmiracle That’s really interesting. She sent me the receipt and it is our address. I asked her for her address and it is completely different. Not only that but I had a look on Streetview and it’s a dump! I don’t get how she could afford such an item living there. Sorry no offence intended.[/quote]
Fairly simply since you now have the receipt. Tell her you will happily contact the company and have them take it back - then they can send it to the correct address which she can give them. Everyone is happy. If she isn't happy, then it's a scam. I've seen these scams before! A couple of years ago I had literally about a dozen items that I didn't order arrive over about six months. Every one went back to the sender. Nobody turned up to collect them, but the large dog in my garden may explain that!

If it's a scam they come pretty much as soon as it's delivered, not over 6 weeks later. Unless they are pretty rubbish scammers

It can't be an expensive phone, no one gets a phone they didn't order, puts it in a cupboard and forgets about it. In fact OP you do sound like you are lacking the curiosity gene, who forgets an unwanted expensive item turning up for no reason

If you've seen the receipt and know which company it was ordered from, I would contact the company via email and explain the situation to them. They may or may not want it returned, but they may well pay for postage if they do want it back. If it is an expensive item then I'm sure the company are well aware of all the scams out there.

Scam. She's stolen someone's card or ordered on hire purchase against you. Using your address so it can't be traced, probably not even her address she gave you. Police or return to company.

Why would she leave it so long though? It’s really strange.

It’s not a phone. More of a luxury gift item.