Parcel at door, requested £140. Aibu to think dodgy?

[DollyKoo]

Just opened the door to a man in a UPS uniform (couldn't see van). Mate behind not in uniform but poss id.

He was holding a parcel, said was cosmetics from Latvia had a different name but my address. Said it needed £140 to be delivered.

Do they really ask for money at the door? It seemed so weird, he pushed a bit but then smiled and said they'd send back when I insisted twice

This doesn't sound right. They'd be parked outside your house or as near as possible. The fact they didn't have your name is another concern. I'd report it to the police - I wouldn't have £140 and would need to check our account before just writing out an unexpected cheque, but some poor person might get caught out.

That's definitely dodgy.

DH has ordered things from abroad before that need customs charges paying before he can have the parcel.

Always when this has happened, he's had to pay before the parcel is delivered. The Royal Mail stick a card through the door saying there's a charge of £x and explaining how you can pay. Courier firms (such as UPS or Parcelforce) have always sent separate invoices saying there's a charge of £X and explaining how to pay. Usually you can either pay online and arrange delivery once that's done, or go in person to the sorting office to pay and pick up the parcel at the same time.

We've never had a postman or delivery driver turn up with a parcel that's got outstanding customs charges, and demanding cash there and then. That's highly irregular.

Definitely speak to police. A friend had a similar experience where they weirdly had no vehicle and a few days later was burgled by the same men (descriptions by neighbour fitted but they were never caught), they had been checking out her house to see if she was in at that time of day.

You may not be the first to be targeted. Or the last.

If you didn't order any cosmetics from Latvia & the name on the parcel wasn't one you recognise then I'd assume it was dodgy in some way.

I agree that you should call 101 and let the Police know. The scam could be a number of things - they may already be aware of it, they may not.

I'm also concerned that they might try this with vulnerable people who may think that they do have to pay .

No vehicle, not genuine. I use UPS a lot for work, and they certainly don't deliver parcels on foot!

Do you have CCTV?
I'd also call 101 and report it.

Sounds very dodgy. It also looks like they may have stalked you a bit and knew you were possibly Latvian due to the cars. I would contact the Police to make them aware of this possible scam.

this is where my lovely barky dogs earn their keep....anyone like that, delivering and knocking is treated to the sight and sound of two very large GSDs baying...they tag team, one on the sofa, feet in the windowsill, one behinds the half glass porch door.

That sounds hugely suss OP...I'd def alert the local bobbies.

I think it sounds very dodgy indeed. I had to pay some duties on something I bought from the States through FedEx and it was all handled via letter/phone call. I highly doubt any company would let the delivery men handle money at the door - there is too much room for error. I am sure UPS will have a property department for handling such money matters just like the one I dealt with at FedEx. I would let the local police know.

I've had parcels from the US that I've had to pay customs on, UPS put a card through your door, they def don't ask for money at the door. Dodgy as fuck, I'm guessing he'd say he'd parked round the corner if you'd asked where his van was.

Very dodgy!

I had a parcel that required a customs fee paying recently and Parcelforce sent me a letter demanding the money before it was even delivered.

DH is a police officer, he said it sounds like a scam, report it either to 101 or here - www.actionfraud.police.uk

UPS do offer a Cash On Delivery service to their customers.

If you're not expecting anything though then it's either a mistake or a scam.

Has to be a scam

If there are import taxes to pay, the package is held at customs until it's paid. You get an email and a letter with different methods of payment on.

And no van

Hope you're OK OP.

That sounds dodgy to me.

Do you have a lot of your neighbors on Facebook? I do and when scammers and door knockers come into our area people put it on Facebook so we know to not answer the door.

How would a genuine delivery driver know what was inside the box?
Contents are written on the outside, if there's a customs declaration. Although you shouldn't need a customs declaration from Latvia.

Does seem odd though. Either a scam or some sort of C.O.D. (Cash on Delivery) for the delivery costs. Either way, I'd report it to the police.

I have had a UPS/FedEx delivery asking for Cash On Delivery as well (something I knew to be genuinely ordered/expected, but hadn't realised there would be taxes as the sender labelled it wrongly!).

Had to pay online before it would be redelivered (or RTS after a specified period)

Ring the police and ring UPS. If you know you haven't ordered anything (especially from Latvia and especially that high value) then this is definitely a scam, otherwise what would be in the parcel?!

As others have said, I am worried that they will try it on with someone vulnerable who may hand over the cash.

Well known scam. Definitely report it. They may try someone else in the street who can't/won't say no.

Sounds dodgy. UPS always email you with tracking details of parcel, and imo always have a very distinctive type of van! It's a bit scary, imagine if you were a pensioner and paid them

IF it was I. The £10-20 I'd have been less wary, but £140 shocked me. I looked briefly, the parcel was small, about size of amazon book box. The label was pretty small and hard to read, had house name/ city but not road.

To be honest the wtf bit of my brain kicked in and I wanted to be off the door step quick. They were friendly but big and I felt a tad vulnerable/ scared of huge money request so I didn't look well.

If there IS customs or import duty due (not from EU countries), then carriers will all add a fee for 'admin' (including the good old Royal Mail). Some ask for the money on the doorstep (Royal Mail) or bill you before or after.

Basically, the carriers (or their agents) now do the UK customs job for them. So whereas it was random whether your parcel got checked (and you charged), now most parcels get checked. The parcel won't be opened, just the manifest checked. Some charge more than others.

I saw no obvious customs label but he pointed to "140" printed in the label, didn't read it well

UPS do ask for cash or payment by phone/online when there is import duty payable on items purchased outside the EU. We have had the same delivery driver for years and we recently paid cash on delivery of goods we'd ordered from the US. It was fully receipted.

This one sounds like a scam though.

YANBU, Definitely dodgy and who is likely to have £140 cash on them? I would definitely report it to 101 as someone who is more vulnerable may be caught out and believe they have to pay the charges.