eBay parcels delivered, but not ordered. What's up?

Border_Reiver2

My wife's friend, who is elderly, has been receiving parcels from eBay that she didn't order. Her name and address has been printed on sticky labels and stuck on top of someone else's name and address, although the "covered" names and addresses are not all the same. She has tried to contact at least one of the other people without luck. She has not opened the parcels, so what's going on and what should she do about it? She is wary that she might be being used in a scam.

Browntoa

Just tell her not to hand them over to anybody if someone knocks "because of a mistake with some parcel addresses" 

She should deny all knowledge or you can take them and leave a few slips of paper with your email address for anyone to contact you .

Spoonie_Turtle

Browntoa said:

Just tell her not to hand them over to anybody if someone knocks "because of a mistake with some parcel addresses" 

She should deny all knowledge or you can take them and leave a few slips of paper with your email address for anyone to contact you .

Actually if they did that, she could honestly say to anyone that turned up 'oh, somebody's already collected it' and see what happens! (although maybe not recommended if she lives alone)