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Caller pretending to be from Parcelforce

Anyone heard of this before?

My mum took a call this morning from someone saying they were from Parcel Force and they had a registered parcel to deliver to a name my mum knew (my cousin) but who had a different name and address from her. They wanted his address.

She genuinely didn't know where he lived so said they could deliver the parcel to her, she would sign for it and then she could find him and get it passed on.

They said they couldn't do this and started asking her other questions about his partner's name. She then smelt a rat and ended the call.

I said I thought they sounded like debt collectors, but we can't work out how they managed to get my mum's details to call as this cousin isn't close to her (it's my dad's, sister's son) and doesn't have the same name, or even live in the same part of the country.

Can anyone shed any light?
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair

Comments

  • NeverAgain_2
    NeverAgain_2 Posts: 1,796 Forumite
    There was a parcel delivery scam in which the householder was duped into calling a premium rate number, although it was usually done by posting a fake 'parcel undelivered' card through the door.
  • DON79
    DON79 Posts: 3,842 Forumite
    does she have the number they called from? she could try the "whocalledme" service online maybe to see which company it was or if anyone else has had similar experiences....
    BSC #215/No.1 Jan 09 Club
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    No, she immediately called the cousin's mother who called her back, so no 1471.

    It was a right old fishing expedition. I can understand that but how they attached my mum to the cousin is a mystery.
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
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