Posted on 08/18/2021 4:38:26 AM PDT by sodpoodle
This seems to be the latest scammers trick. Very clever!
Scammers - Surprise Package Delivery
This is very clever. I would probably fall for it, if not warned. Give this wide distribution. This scam is very clever. Just when you thought you'd heard it all. Be very careful out there! Beware of people bearing gifts!
The following is a recounting of the incident from the victim:
A week ago I had a phone call from someone saying that he was from some outfit called: "Express Couriers" (This name could be any courier company). He asked if I was going to be home because there was a package for me that required a signature. The caller said that the delivery would arrive at my home in approximately an hour. Sure enough an hour later a uniformed delivery man came with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine. I was very surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I, certainly, didn't expect anything like it. Intrigued, I inquired as to who the sender was. The courier replied, "I don't know, I'm only delivering the package."
Apparently, a greeting card was being sent separately. (The card has never arrived!) There was also a consignment note with the gift.
He then went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol,there was a $3.50 "delivery/verification charge" providing proof that he actually had delivered the package to an adult (of legal drinking age), and not just left it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by anyone, especially a minor.
>p>This sounded logical and I offered to pay him cash. He then said that the delivery company required payment to be by credit or debit card only, so that everything is properly accounted for, and this would help in keeping a legal record of the transaction. He added, "Couriers don't carry cash to avoid loss or being, likely, targets for robbery."
My husband, who by this time was standing beside me, pulled out his credit card, and the "delivery man" asked him to swipe the card on a small mobile card machine with a small screen and keypad. My husband was asked to enter his PIN number and a receipt was printed out. He was given a copy of the transaction. The guy said everything was in order and wished us a good day and left.
To our horror, between the next day and the following 4 days $4,000 had been charged/withdrawn from our credit/debit account at various ATM machines.
Apparently, the "mobile credit card machine" which the "delivery man" carried, had all the info necessary to create a "dummy" card with all our card details including the PIN number.
Upon finding out about the illegal transactions on our card, we immediately notified the bank which issued us a new card and our credit/debit account was closed. We personally went to the police where it was confirmed that it is definitely a scam because several households had been similarly hit.
WARNING: Be wary of accepting any "surprise gift or package" which you neither expected nor personally ordered especially if it involves any kind of payment as a condition of receiving the gift or package. Also, never accept anything if you do not personally know, or there is no proper identification, of who the sender is.
Above all, the only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction!
PLEASE, pass this on, it may just prevent someone else from being swindled.
THIS IS A MUST READ AND PLEASE LET FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW TOO!
If an individual comes to my house delivering alcohol, watch the news the next day. lolol.
“This sounded logical”
No it didn’t.
This story, this thread about scammers, is just another manifestation of why John Lennon’s “Imagine” is such a crock. Well, besides the fact that he sings “Imagine there’s no heaven,” then paints a beautiful picture of heaven.
Why would you ever pay for something in this manner, even at $3.50, that you did not order? As soon as someone says ITS FREE BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY... its always a scam.
“Also, a credit card does not use a PIN. PINs are used on ATM cards.”
I never used it, but my CC had a PIN for cash advances.
One Christmas, I got my husband a “beer of the month” subscription for the craft beers he loved.
We were told a signature would be required when the beer was delivered.
100% of the time, it was left on our porch, no signature needed.
Fortunately, our porch does not face the street - we’ve never had a problem with thefts - but our neighbors have.
I have a PIN each of 4 credit cards and each of my ATM cards.
Thanks for the info about PINs on credit cards.
Don W — did you have to request the PIN or did it come with the card?
I’ve never had a PIN on a cc in 50 years of using them.
Regardless of the PIN issue, I’m still skeptical about this story even those another poster says Snopes declared it true.
“Also, a credit card does not use a PIN. PINs are used on ATM cards.”
You must not have a credit card. They have pins.
Snopes? Why on earth would you use them?
If they say it didn’t happen, it probably did.
This reminds me of a secretary I had one time who actually gave her checking account number to one of those law enforcement charity cold callers. They only got her for about $100. I’m sorry but, damn, don’t be so gullible for crying out loud. Giving your debit card and PIN to someone who shows up at your door? Come on, man!
I kept waiting for the punch line!
The pin was sent separate from the card, and some of them give the option of changing it to whatever the user wants.
Never once saw a credit card with a PIN. Got a new one a few months back.
A big dog helps also. Mine loves to chase delivery drivers.
Yup. If the number isn’t on my contacts, they can leave a message or get blocked. Pretty easy.
Is this another 10 year old rumor from (gasp) the internet???? Oh no! The email from a friend. Aaaaaaaahhhhhh! Wake the hell up people and stop buying into crap.
Thanks for the info. Have a friend who got an email purportedly from the USPS saying they were going to deliver a shipment, but my friend needed to pay the tax due.
The scammers are out there, for sure.
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