Is this a bit weird? - I think someone is using my address

[RushieRoo]

A couple of months ago we received a letter addressed to someone not known us. Didn’t think much of it and assumed it must’ve been for a previous occupant.

Then DH took in a parcel delivery. He thought it was for me but once he had it inside he realised although the parcel had our address on it was for someone else - the same person we previously received mail for.

Later someone knocked on the door and said we had his parcel. As I handed it over I recognised him as someone I have seen a couple of times standing near my house in a dressing gown and slippers.

Then yesterday we saw the same guy stood outside our house. A car pulled up and gave the guy a takeaway. Do you think he ordered takeaway to our address then intercepted it? Why is he using our address?

Yes and ugh sorry I find it very creepy. Do you think he's homeless? Could you ask advice at the police station?

Check your credit files now.

Why did you not say anything to him when you handed the parcel over?

Definitely check your credit info.

If it was just the takeaway that could be explained away (I once ordered one to a house ten houses away, as they were in the delivery zone and we weren’t!), but the post too sounds dodgy.

Because I don’t know why but I thought he was the delivery driver who upon realising his mistake had come to get the parcel back.

There is a road in a nearby village with the same name so thought it was maybe intended for them as we’ve had takeaway drivers a few times get confused

It was only after I had given him the parcel and he was walking off I recognised him. Normally when I see him he’s wearing a dressing gown and slippers

Also surely you must have thought it suspicious that someone knew you had their parcel when your husband thought it was for you. Different if the postman asks if you'd take in a parcel for a neighbour but in this case he didn't.

What would I be looking for on my credit file? I looked at it a few days ago as we just did our mortgage and there was nothing untoward

Yeah that’s why I thought he was the delivery man returning as how else would anyone know we had the parcel.

But I’m assuming he got an email notification saying the parcel had been delivered

Just call the police and they can investigate

The parcel collection thing is a known scam. Hopefully you'll be okay, but the scammer orders something to be delivered to the victim's address. The victim accepts the delivery, then the scammer calls round for it. The victim can find their being charged for a mobile phone contract, and have no proof that they handed the goods over to a stranger.

This is adorably naive

https://www.lovemoney.com/news/88036/mobile-phone-delivery-scam-stay-safe

I don’t get how that scam works

This sounds very dodgy. I'd be checking my credit history on line to see if gheres been applications for credit cards etc. I'd also be checking my statements.

If hes in a dressing gown he likely lives nearby. You might not know him but maybe a mutual beighbour does and has inadvertently given him information. Do you shred confidential mail? Ensure you do. If there's a next time photograph the details on package then open it and contact the provider. This might give you clues.
Do not reveal info about yourself including the 2 week holiday you have planned. I always let people know I work shifts (no pattern). I don't want randers knowing when the house is empty.

I wouldn’t be giving him any more parcels that he gets delivered to you. I’d call the company and ask them to collect. He might stop if he realises he isn’t getting away with it.

My husband had his identity stolen a few years ago and we logged it with a fraud website. Tbh, it was limiting as to what could actually be done about it.

Could be as simple as road mix up, and he's having to collect his packages/deliveries from your road (seen as the village has a road with same name). Could be tracking parcels/delivery drivers and therefore knows when packages are being delivered.

Or, as pp have said, could be a scam.
Hope you get to the bottom of it.

The parcel said it was from a health food store on the outside

That is really odd. I get that your DH just took in the parcel. I very nearly took in one the other day for someone else (not like yours we don't have street numbers we live in the middle of no where and they are cousins with the same surname/ townland)

But maybe have a check before taking the parcel, and send any post for him back as return to sender.

It could be accidental. I’ve had to track down a very expensive Christmas present before because I’ve used the billing address postcode with the delivery address door number. But this seems to be happening a bit too regularly to be accidental. Although the takeaway thing is odd. I wonder whether he’s trying to hide that he lives at his own address? It has to be close by if he’s normally not dressed.

I’d be checking and refusing delivery of parcels, returning post to sender with ‘Not Known at this Address’ written on it and keeping a very close eye on my credit files if I were you. And if he knocks at your door asking for post or parcels, tell him that you’ll be returning everything with his name on it and if it happens again, you’ll report him for trying a scam. The police won’t be in the slightest bit interested but if he is up to no good, he might decide you’re more trouble than it’s worth.

@HappiDaze
And how would they ?

He might be a neighbour that is hiding things from his wife and using your address to do it. Personally I'd be doing a stake out and following him back to where ever he came from.

Could he be living in your garage or shed

or your loft...

There are all sorts of benign possibilities like this. OP checked her credit file recently, nothing showing up yet.

@RushieRoo why not ask him next time you see him?

"Hi, you seem to be getting stuff delivered to my address. We need to know why."

Could he be living in his vehicle so not have an actual delivery address?