Is this a scam?

Merryb

I've searched for a similar post to see where to post this but I couldn't find one

I found a parcel delivered by Evri outside my door. I was expecting some parcels so I opened it but it was not for me. It had my address on it and post code, but someone else's name and part adress mangled in with my address. I wasn't sure what to do but expected Evri might come back. Today I got a letter addressed to me by name from the person who is named on the parcel and who gave my address. They say they happen to have someone in the area, even though they live nearly 400 miles away!?! and if I ring they will collect the parcel.

I think there are some very strange things about this:

Coincidence that they know someone in my area so far from them.

I wonder how they got my name - I always ask not to be on the 'open' electoral role.

How did my postcode get onto their delivery instruction on the inital order - they say it was added automatically by the website and they only realised it was there after the order was placed.

I'm not sure what I should do now - any help appreciated.

Thanks

p00hsticks

Sounds very suspicious to me.... as you say that you've opened it, I think I'd be getting in touch with the company whose goods are inside and saying that you want to return them - and tell the mystery contact that the goods have been returned to the sender. 

born_again

As above.
Tell them it has gone back to sender.

teaselMay

It does sound suspicious, I'd be concerned too, I'd return it to where it came from.

I did once have a similar package and I'm not sure why it came here but found the intended recipient, who had a distinctive name, on the local facebook group which made a bit more sense. I handed it to him and haven't had any more post for him. 

marcia_

 What was in the parcel, something high value? 

 If you call this person make sure to withhold your telephone number but i agree just contact the retailer and tell this person its been returned to them 

soolin

There is a scam where goods are ordered and sent to a strangers address then collected. I can't explain it coherently so try a google search.  However the scammer collects from the 'target' but when retailer realises they try and recover money from the target. It is likely that your name and address has been compromised, so these items were ordered in your name possibly on a cloned card.

AS above do not hand anything over, contact retailer immediately, advise them that this has been received and that whilst the details are yours this was not ordered by you. Then once resolved get them to investigate the payment method and what information they hold on you. 

ballisticbrian

As Soolin implied, they have the goods on credit or on a cloned card, delivered to your door and it will be your problem.

SkylineExplorer

This does sound odd and worth being cautious about.
Don’t call the number they provided, if it’s genuine, they can contact Evri to arrange collection directly.

You could also reach out to Evri yourself and explain the situation. Better safe than sorry with things like this

soolin

SkylineExplorer said:

This does sound odd and worth being cautious about.
Don’t call the number they provided, if it’s genuine, they can contact Evri to arrange collection directly.

You could also reach out to Evri yourself and explain the situation. Better safe than sorry with things like this

There’s very little point in contacting Evri, they just deliver the packages and they delivered to the correct name and address. The people to contact as a matter of urgency is the retailer, or the person/company that sent the parcel. 

I would also not be allowing Evri to re collect the parcel and take it somewhere else, without arranging this direct with the sender. 

Brie

Check all your accounts and cards and let your banks know that there may be a problem.  Unlikely it will come back to bite but better safe than sorry.

GDB2222

Thanks for posting this @merryb.  It’s really helpful to hear about this scam. 

I wonder why they give an address 400 miles away, which makes the scam so much more obvious?  I appreciate that they don’t want you popping round with the parcel, as they obviously don’t live at the address they gave, but they could have used an address 10 miles away, and you’d not have popped round there either.