New Smart Phone scam!?

doc_rich

Yesterday I received two unsolicited smart phones delivered by courier. I received a Galaxy S2 with a Vodafone sim from e2save and an iPhone 4s with a Vodafone sim from some unknown source. I nor anyone in my household have ordered these or signed a deal with any company for a new phone.

I have dealt with e2save, part of Carphone Warehouse, before but that was 2 years ago. The paperwork with the iPhone had no company name, no address, no contact details of any sort. The only information was on the label, the sender was Unipart Technology Logistics.

This clearly is a scam but as yet my credit cards and bank account remain uncharged. But from what I know phones are only despatched after credit checks have been completed which means my personal details are being used.

This is a new one on me and I can only think that the scam is from some outfit or individual who is claiming commission on false sales. Perhaps it takes some time for the false sales to come to light.

I have locked these phones in a cupboard and alerted my bank & credit card co. But I have been surprised by the reaction of a number of people I have told who thought I should accept the free gift and get on and use them. I'm old enough and wise enough to know that there is no such thing as a free gift!

This is a new one to me, has anyone else come across this sort of thing?

D

jd87

It is yours to keep. Congratulations.

Unsolicited Goods and Services Act
Under the Unsolicited Goods and Services Act 1971, (as amended) it is an offence to demand payment for goods known to be unsolicited, in other words, they were sent to a person without any prior request made by them or on their behalf.

Someone who receives goods in these circumstances may retain them as an unconditional gift, and does not have to pay for or return any unwanted goods. Anyone who receives a demand for payment for unsolicited goods should report the matter to their local Trading Standards Department, whose details can be located from http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/.

However, in the case of unsolicited goods received before 1 November 2000, the recipient is required to give notice to the sender to collect them within 30 days, or otherwise to wait for 6 months, before being able to treat the goods as their own property.

grumbler

jd87 wrote: »

It is yours to keep. Congratulations.

It's too early to jump to conclusions. Looks like ID theft to me and the thief having failed to intercept the phones.
Yes, the OP can keep the phones, but is likely to have either the money taken from the bank account(s) or the credit history trashed.

kizkiz

It could be ID theft, or it could just be a scammer using your address.
Be alert for anyone turning up and claiming to be a neighbour asking if you've had any post for them

grumbler

kizkiz wrote: »

It could be ID theft, or it could just be a scammer using your address.

I am pretty sure it was a signed for delivery with the addressee name printed on the parcel. If it was not the OP's name, they should have refused to accept the goods.

robbies_gal

good point kiz-dont know how well you know your neighbours but just be careful of people claiming they were out and were waiting for 2 new phones

id report it to the police aswell to cover yourself

doc_rich

Latest update. Another package arrived this morning from Unipart Technology Logistics felt like a phone but bigger box than the iPhone. I refused to accept delivery this time, now knowing that it is some kind of scam.

All the packages were addressed to me personally and required signing receipt. I've heard of the scam where packages are intercepted, perhaps this is the tip of the iceberg!

Also just contacted my bank. Who told me that Vodafone placed a Direct Debit mandate on my account this morning. No money taken yet and the bank cancelled the DD. Banks fraud dept doesn't want to get involved and told me to take it up with Vodafone but I don't have the DD references yet.

As I suspected there is no such thing as a free gift!

grumbler

Bad news. Even in the best case scenario you are likely to end up with a CIFAS flags in your credit files.

Jon_01

As grumblers says, it'll be ID theft and the phones (and their contracts will be fraud). You need to get on to Voda and let them know and get them to pick up the phones. Voda CS will need to raise it with their fraud dept and get all the acc's closed with a fraud flag and get the bills stopped.
As a rule they intercept the phones before they get to you, and the first you know is when the first bill drops on the mat.

Clearly someone knows enough about you to have passed the security check, so I'm surprised your bank didn't offer to change you're acc info?

Brian_The_Lion

Jon_01 wrote: »

Clearly someone knows enough about you to have passed the security check, so I'm surprised your bank didn't offer to change you're acc info?

If this happened to me and the bank behaved they way they have in this instance then i'd begin looking elsewhere for my banking.

You put your trust in them to keep your money safe and they have a duty to act in a professional manner when you call them with a situation that is serious and unlawful.

Passing the buck to Vodafone is all well and good, but what if worse case scenario happens and theres other goods involved with other companies?

Your bank needs to deal with this before anything else happens!

robbies_gal

yes and they only cancelled the dd because you said it wasnt you how can they say theyre fraud dept isnt interested?