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Original poster

Is this a scam?

208 replies

LittleEntrepeneur · 13/02/2021 13:31

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.

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 13/02/2021 14:31

The company wouldn’t have given her your address. Sounds like a scam.

Original poster
LittleEntrepeneur · 13/02/2021 14:32

One odd thing though... on the receipt that she got at the time of ordering under the ‘Delivery Notes’ section it says ‘shop sent to wrong address’. But they hadn’t sent it yet.

OP posts:
Justanotherfaceinthecrowd · 13/02/2021 14:44

Strange thing in a delivery note.
It's fake.
Contact the company or action fraud uk.
Have you got experian/clear score etc.. make sure no one has opened any lines of credit in your name?

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MindGrapes · 13/02/2021 14:46

@LittleEntrepeneur

One odd thing though... on the receipt that she got at the time of ordering under the ‘Delivery Notes’ section it says ‘shop sent to wrong address’. But they hadn’t sent it yet.
Oh dear, that's like the note to school saying 'Johnny can't do PE as he's hurt his leg, signed, my mum'!
knittingaddict · 13/02/2021 14:46

Is it a paper receipt? Could be a forgery. I know someone who forged petrol receipts for work expenses. Not a friend.

Original poster
LittleEntrepeneur · 13/02/2021 14:48

@knittingaddict It’s like the order confirmation you get when you rise something online. She sent me a screenshot.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleEntrepeneur · 13/02/2021 14:48

Sorry, I meant when you order something online.

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 13/02/2021 14:52

@LittleEntrepeneur
easy enough to forge a screenshot.

Phone the company up and ask them. When I received something for the wrong house number the company said to keep it and they'd send another out. As it turned out to only be 6 houses away (road of over 100 houses so not simple) I said I'd drop it off.
But I'd send it back rather than give it to her, as it's clearly a deliberate "mistake" if her address is nothing like yours.

IthinkIm · 13/02/2021 14:54

What is it?

I would tell her it's not arrived. No idea what's happened but you suggest she contacts who she bought it from.

SilverBirchWithout · 13/02/2021 14:59

After this time, I suspect she has already had a replacement or a refund - what is the date on the order she has shown you, could it be for the replacement? It all seems rather odd. I personally wouldn’t make much effort or waste anytime on this, refuse to give to woman and suggest she takes up with the company who sent it. But do keep the item for a few months just to be sure.

Many years ago I received an item (a fairly expensive child’s toy) which I hadn’t ordered from Amazon (along with others I had actually ordered). It was not on any paperwork. I went down a weird rabbit hole of trying to get Amazon to take it back - as they could not find any record of it and I hadn’t paid for it (although my name and address was on the package) they refused to take it back - so I ended up giving it to a charity. Presumably to it was a warehouse picking error.

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 13/02/2021 15:01

Why on earth have you given her your phone number or email address? I'm asking because you've said she's sent you a screenshot. What has really gone on here? I get that people sometimes change details, but she now knows your name, address, phone number and God knows what else about you.

Africa2go · 13/02/2021 15:08

It doesn't make sense OP, who puts an expensive item away for 6 weeks when you know it's not yours and do nothing to send it back / sort it out?

LunaHeather · 13/02/2021 15:11

OP who delivered it?

Tbh I'd report to police, someone has fraudulently used your address.

And check your credit record.

Echobelly · 13/02/2021 15:14

The long wait could be because she pulls this scam all the time and forgot about this one until this week? I think the suggestion to return via supplier is a good idea - covers everyone's arse.

RunningFromInsanity · 13/02/2021 15:17

Just give it to her.
You don’t want it, you didn’t pay for it, you have no intention of using it or returning it. Just pass it over and check what parcels you sign for in future.

LunaHeather · 13/02/2021 15:21

@Echobelly

The long wait could be because she pulls this scam all the time and forgot about this one until this week? I think the suggestion to return via supplier is a good idea - covers everyone's arse.
Yes!
ChateauMargaux · 13/02/2021 15:24

I can see how your DH wrapped a present without thinking. Mine wrapped a book for DS but it was a book that I had finished and happened to be in our bedroom where we were wrapping presents. I would love to know what the luxury item was and how you explained it to your daughter...

Speak to the supplier.

I struggle to see how it could be a scam and how anyone could come after you for anything but I am naive and clueless.

ChateauMargaux · 13/02/2021 15:25

I guess she orders something, claims it hasn't been delivered, gets a refund then collects the delivered item.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 13/02/2021 15:25

Yes, it’s a scam.

latheritup · 13/02/2021 15:27

What is it? Why the secrecy?

BrokenCircle · 13/02/2021 15:32

You say you unboxed everything and wrapped it, but this item is still boxed.

Leakyradiator · 13/02/2021 15:40

I would tell her , oops, someone sent it back as I had it sitting ready to go back ( or something). Contact the company, get them to pick it up /arrange return. Get them to check the details re sale - have they got your details in file? Where did it come from? And contact the police too. I wouldn’t engage with this person if at all possible. Tell her you’ve sent back and to contact the company directly and they will sort it for her. Doesn’t sound like a ‘mistake’ sounds well dodgy

combatbarbie · 13/02/2021 15:48

Have you googled/emailed the company on the delivery note, smacks of scam to me.

NerrSnerr · 13/02/2021 16:07

Why can't you say what it is?

Why did you just put it in the cupboard? Did you try and return it to sender?