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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is really weird/unsettling - possible fraud?

72 replies

SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:24

I got home from work today, big brown box, addressed to DH. Asked him what it was, he thought it was an xmas present for DD that I had ordered. No it isn't. I have opened it. It's a drone. Sent from some company in China, addressed to DH, but the mobile on the sheet inside is not his number, or anyone we know.
WTF am I meant to do with it? I am worried that someone is going to come to the front door asking for a parcel.
DH has been having some 'unusual activity' on his bank account which the bank have blocked, someone tried to buy a BT mobile using DD's name address and DOB but not his bank card. BT called him to flag it up, and it got cancelled.
What should I do? Am feeling a bit sick/panicky about it.
DH is out this evening at a course.

OP posts:
Racecardriver · 05/12/2018 18:26

Contact the non emergency number for police. Sounds like identity theft.

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:28

I've just googled, and the drone is worth £500!

OP posts:
ihatethecold · 05/12/2018 18:29

Call your bank also.

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:30

Hope some burly criminal isn't going to come and knock for it.

OP posts:
Bunnybigears · 05/12/2018 18:30

Has the £500 come from DH's bank account?

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 05/12/2018 18:31

I'd be more disturbed by them knowing DDs name.

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:31

No it hasn't Bunny (as far as I can tell). A transaction was blocked yesterday though apparently. DH is not here so I can't get all the details.

OP posts:
sackrifice · 05/12/2018 18:32

check bank accounts, and emails in spam, and prepare for a burly crim to come and knock your door down.

AnastasiaVonBeaverhausen · 05/12/2018 18:33

If it's come from China it could have been ordered weeks ago. It does sound like someone is/has stolen your DHs identity.

Palegreenstars · 05/12/2018 18:35

You can had found items into the police

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:35

He has signed up for experian service where they monitor your credit and they have flagged up a few things that have been stopped already, but agree that this must have gone through already.
What the Feck do I do with the shiting thing? Take it to post office?

Thanks sackrifice you've made me feel so much better.

OP posts:
hendal · 05/12/2018 18:37

I was a victim of ID theft over summer. First thing to do, report to action fraud www.actionfraud.police.uk and get a crime reference number.

Get him to sign up for his credit report with experian - it’s free for 14 days. And with ClearScore (free). To check for searches etc.

Report any unrecognized activity to Experian & ClearCredit and phone the companies yourself to raise the concern.

Report to the drone company that it is fraud.

Follow up with the bank, check about getting new cards and request additional security measures for phone/in branch transactions etc.

I would also register his details (and yours) with CIFAS, this costs £20(ish). The companies will add this as you report but this will take time. It will alert any other companies (if this person is still using his details) that there has been fraud & they will take a more cautious approach.

Be prepared that it will take months to sort (I found out early July, acted right away and am still clearing searches from my credit report), for now the main thing is to get notifying that it’s happened and stop them from being able to do anymore.

Sexnotgender · 05/12/2018 18:38

Get a protective registration on CIFAS. Costs £20 for the year.

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:39

Yes Anastasia it does, so what can I do? He has applied for new bank card, but he can't change his name can he?
Feel sick

OP posts:
hendal · 05/12/2018 18:39

Ah cross posted OP! Glad he’s signed up to experian, I ended up paying the fee ongoing and they are hands down the most helpful of all the credit agencies.

Just keep plugging away with the ones that you don’t recognize, and be aware that others may appear in a few weeks - from the other credit agencies (equifax, callcredit), which prolongs the hassle but it will be sorted.

Lifeisabeach09 · 05/12/2018 18:41

Hold on to it for the time being.
Are you able to contact the sender? It may have come via Amazon, Ebay, etc. Does your DH have accounts with these?

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:41

Thanks @Hendal - he has signed up for Experian already, but thanks for that info about CIFAS, will get on to that now.

Unfortunately drone company is in China, with no email address. I will google them though.

OP posts:
chickenchip · 05/12/2018 18:43

This happened to my mum. A white van came to the door claiming the parcel had been misdelivered and he wanted to take it away. It's a scam. Contact 101 and let them know. If they do come knocking then take their registration if you can a description.

Miscible · 05/12/2018 18:46

Could it simply be that your husband has ordered something online and they've sent the wrong item?

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:46

What did your mum do Chicken?

did she hand over the parcel?

OP posts:
SignOnTheWindow · 05/12/2018 18:48

@hendal that's really useful - thanks for posting

HollowTalk · 05/12/2018 18:48

Identity theft is only used where there's an advantage to the thief. If they're sending stuff to your home address then it's not benefiting the thief. However if they came round, as chicken said, and asked for a parcel which had your husband's name and address on, how on earth are they going to prove it belongs to them?

Are you sure nobody's sent it as a gift or won it in a competition?

Roussillon849 · 05/12/2018 18:49

chickenchip what is the actual scam?

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:49

I like your optimism Miscible but DH wouldn't spend £500 on anything electrical. If it was something from a book shop I might consider it.

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Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 18:52

I know @HollowTalk it doesn't make any sense, but I guess they use DH's name and info, and someone else's card details, and then send someone to come and collect it. We have a communal hallway, so maybe relying on us just handing stuff over we don't recognise.
No-one in my family would spend £500 on a drone - all far too tight!

OP posts: