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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:
Holidayshopping · 05/12/2018 20:42

Ring the police.
Tell DD not to answer the door or say that you’ve taken the parcel to the police.

Has the money been taken out of your account?

Stickmanslittleleaf · 05/12/2018 21:05

I wouldn't take it anywhere yet, I'd call the bank's fraud dept, explain the situation and give them the info about the delivery you have and see if it matches a fradulent transaction they've blocked on the card. They will possibly link the 2 together and if not they'll advise you on what to do with it. I'd be concerned that just leaving it at a post office or returning it wouldn't cover you if the bank try and put the transaction through as real and you say 'but I left it at the PO!' If you see what I mean? If they don't advise you and just wash their hands I'd call the local police station and ask them what to do as you suspect it might be a fraudulent transaction and don't want to be held accountable for the bloody thing. I doubt they'd take it if you just rocked up with it, what would they do with it?
Do not let your DD answer the door under any circumstances in case a 'courier' comes for it. If anyone approaches her as she comes home tell her to just repeat 'you must speak to my mum or dad' and go to a neighbour's house and knock. That would put most scammers off.

Stickmanslittleleaf · 05/12/2018 21:08

If anyone knocks on your door and asks for it just say 'we didn't order it so our bank told us to rts. The details were in there so we did, they'll get the item back and you can sort it out with them'

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 21:32

No Holiday they haven't used our account, just DH's name and address. Weird.

Thanks for all of your advice it's really appreciated. I'll make all the calls to CIFAS and fraud repoting line in the morning.

Have advised DD and my mum who is babysitting tomorrow, not to open the door.

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 05/12/2018 21:39

One other point is that DD has just started walking home on her own after school and letting herself it. On her own for an hour until we get home from work, so maybe they think she would be a soft touch if they knock.
This is really unlikely op. They aren’t spying on you. ID theft is much more haphazard than that.

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 21:41

Thanks for that Ohyesiam, you have put my mind at ease (a bit).
Still dropping her off and picking her up tomorrow though :D.

OP posts:
sallyshowdog · 05/12/2018 21:50

It's not come from Amazon has it?

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 05/12/2018 22:06

No Sally - no amazon branding at all

OP posts:
Patriciathestripper1 · 05/12/2018 23:48

The stone js full of Cocaine and a drug cartel will fly it out of there whilst you are all asleep Grin

Patriciathestripper1 · 05/12/2018 23:48

Drone (flipping auto correct)

maddening · 05/12/2018 23:48

I'll call the number if you like

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 06/12/2018 10:40

maddening you are a brave warrior!

I am in the middle of a protracted online chat with the drone makers, trying to find out how to get rid of the damn thing. Have registered it with Actionfraud, and tried to get in touch with CIFAS but they are busy. AF recommended a site called www.noddle.co.uk for credit check.

OP posts:
Raspberry10 · 06/12/2018 11:15

Last Christmas some bastard stole my husband’s identity and signed up to a catalogue company and all you needed to sign up for credit with them was a name, address and DOB. First we knew about it was when two credit agreements came to us.

They’d signed up, ordered items and then changed the delivery address to somewhere (not our home address) and the bills came here. Maybe yours did get time to change the address yet? Phone ActionFraud, raise it with them.

Then get your husband to check his credit report. We found Noddle to be the quickest at the fraud coming up. It’s a massive pain in the arse to sort out and I’m still stunned that the company involved had such utter rubbish credit sign up process. So open to fraud! And looking at Twitter complaints it happened all the time.

I hope you find out where it’s from and get it all sorted ASAP. I know it had me worried sick.

hazell42 · 06/12/2018 11:52

My guess would be that someone has asked to have it delivered to his house. Christmas is round the corner. Its a present someone didn't want delivered to their house
Why did you open it

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 06/12/2018 12:31

hazel42 The parcel was addressed to us, neither of us knew what it was so we opened it. It had a contact mob no we didn’t recognise and was for a really expensive item that none of our friends or family had ordered for us. I am sending it back to the company and they can refund whoever paid for it, and contact whoever ordered it. I have logged it as possible identity theft. If it is an innocent error they can sort it out without me.

OP posts:
charlestonchaplin · 06/12/2018 12:55

You are so keen to get rid of the drone before you even work out what is going on. You may end up £500 down, no drone and your bank refusing to refund your money. Why the haste?

Balaboosteh · 06/12/2018 12:56

There are some odd scams coming out of China where they send you goods you haven’t ordered. I had a knock-off nike sweatshirt out of the blue. It’s a very odd one because they don’t actually pursue you for payment but they might, on an item of such high value. Certainly suggests that your identity has been compromised in some way but it’s hard to see to what purpose. I’d hold onto the goods and just see what happens.

Balaboosteh · 06/12/2018 12:57

Don’t send it back. That might be the scam. They come after you for payment saying they’ve not received it.

Balaboosteh · 06/12/2018 12:59

To clarify - no money’s come out of your account, has it?

Original poster
SarfE4sticated · 06/12/2018 13:43

No money has come out of our accounts. I really really want rid of it because it is bloody expensive and not ours. The fraud officer recommended contacting the firm and sending it back to them, so that is what I’ve done. I have kept transcripts of the conversation and email from the Customer Service manager of the company.

OP posts:
Roussillon849 · 06/12/2018 13:47

I can understand why you're keen, SarfE4sticated. It is unsettling, as you said in your op.

MoaningSickness · 06/12/2018 17:38

most people will pass them over

It genuinely boggles my mind that anyone would just hand over a parcel with their (or their family members) name and address on!

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