Dummy Package Scam

[Ginseng]

Hypothetical Scenario: Party A agrees to send package to Party B via USPS with DCN. Party A puts a package together, ships via USPS with DCN. USPS reports package delivered. Party B reports package never received.

What just happened? Was the package stolen off Party B's property? Possible. Did Party B actually receive it but deny receiving it? Possible. But recently, it occurred to me that a third option was possible. Let me know what you think of this: Party A puts together a dummy package. Could be anything, a used paperback, some Jehova's Witnesses pamphlets, whatever. Party A then proceeds to purposely mis-address the package. For example, instead of 2768 Street Lane, it goes to 2624 Street Lane. Far enough so that casual conversation with immediate neighbors would not turn up any clues. Close enough so that the same ZIP code is used. The package would be innocuous and worthless enough that the occupants at 2624 Street Lane would simply dump it without a second thought.

What do you think? Plausible? Feasible? How would one guard against such a maneuver? What clues might one look for?

Wilkey

 

[nicmert]

I suppose it is possible. Would the receipt have the ship to address on it?

I would bet that the odds of a package stolen from the porch is more likely though. I know it has happened in my area. I now have packages sent to my work address to avoid that possibility.

Steve

 

[Ginseng]

Would the receipt have the ship to address on it?

No. The cash register receipt would only have the city, state, and ZIP. The handwritten DCN paperwork could have anything written on it.

This is for going to the counter. Would the Click-n-Ship option provide more detailed information?

Wilkey

 

[Sportsdls]

Sounds plausible and doable from the way the USPS releases info for DC numbers. Perhaps contacting the Post Office would bring some answers about the delivery address, however I am not sure they would release that.

I wouldn't rule out that the USPS driver marked the package as delivered without delivering it. I have had packages marked delivered 2-3 days before actually arriving. For whatever reason they do a pretty crappy job with DC in my experience.

 

[indyrob]

Would the Click-n-Ship option provide more detailed information?

Wilkey

I only use Click 'n' Ship because I C&P the address from someone's PM or Profile. In reverse, I can always look up the info and check out the address as it would have appeared on the label.

 

[Cooke]

I wouldn't rule out that the USPS driver marked the package as delivered without delivering it. I have had packages marked delivered 2-3 days before actually arriving. For whatever reason they do a pretty crappy job with DC in my experience.

That happened with me and FedEx Ground. The person stuck it in his truck, and couldn't find it at the end of the day (relatively small package) so he figured he just delivered it and marked it delivered.

Now, back on topic. I think it is completely plausibly and maybe should be removed because I think it is very likely a someone could try it. Party A could just claim it got lost in the bureaucracy of USPS and Party B is out a package. This is just another scam someone could pull on you and it is a very well thought out plan.

 

[Rconectn]

It's happened to me before. So now to avoid that I send every package with Signature Confirmation. You can still track it like a DCN, but at the end when the package arrives it tells you who actually signed for the package. It cost a little more, but well worth it. I only send DCN when I have traded with that person before, but otherwise SC all the way.

 

[Seanholio]

This assumes that there is no level of trust between the parties. Doing business in such fashion entails a certain amount of risk on Party B's part if they paid in good faith. I'm guessing this is one of the reasons why CP is such a good place to do business: reputation carries great weight among the members.

As for guarding against it, I don't yet see how one could, except requiring visibility into the person's USPS account to see the original shipping information, which would be a risk on party A's part because you'd have to share passwords with someone, even if temporarily. It might also be possible to have a representative from the USPS verify the original label if it was completed online. I wish you luck finding a competent USPS representative, though.

 

[drew_goring]

This assumes that there is no level of trust between the parties. Doing business in such fashion entails a certain amount of risk on Party B's part if they paid in good faith. I'm guessing this is one of the reasons why CP is such a good place to do business: reputation carries great weight among the members.

As for guarding against it, I don't yet see how one could, except requiring visibility into the person's USPS account to see the original shipping information, which would be a risk on party A's part because you'd have to share passwords with someone, even if temporarily. It might also be possible to have a representative from the USPS verify the original label if it was completed online. I wish you luck finding a competent USPS representative, though.

Exactly. I guess it boils down to doing business with somebody that you trust.

 

[grateful1]

It could also go to a like address.

A guy on CF lives on a 'lane'...there's a 'road' with the same name - less than a mile away - it was delivered to the ROAD.

Luckily I inlcuded a phone number on the package and the guy that received it called me.
I put the two in touch and he dropped it off at the guys(on CF) home.

So - I had the correct addy on the package...but the delivery guy brought it to the right number - wrong street.

Also - I get stuff (junk mail and bills) from a house a town away...different zip and all...same house number and street address....I just drop them back in the mail.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I had an issue due to an oversight by USPS. Our address is ...N.E. 81st Ave but there is also a ...NE 81st Street..!! NOT the same house...!!! I had a box from Al and about $3K worth of computer parts accidentally delivered to the other address....!! Just my luck, the other house is in a "less reputable" neighborhood and the family that lives there has English as a second language (or so they claimed the first time I showed up). I showed up the second time with the delivery slips and a State Trooper. They seemed to understand much better that time, go figure. Well, son of a gun, the boxes had been opened but were intact, and in their hall closet.

Kudos to USPS for the way they handled this. A supervisor drove out to my home, apologized, and told me the steps that were being taken to prevent this from happening in the future.

Moral of the story is that even when outright deception isn't in play, "stuff" happens.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[jlada]

Foiled by Wilkey again... sonuvabitch.

 

[anvil]

Are you on Holidays Wilkey... :whistling:

 

[KeithS]

Another option is to use UPS, they put the whole address in the tracking info which would negate your option C. UPS costs more though and they don't pick it up at your front door. I like click and ship for it's ease of use.

Keith

 

[Gator]

signature confirmation is a pain in the ass, no one is home, usually, to sign for it. Bottom line is if you're not sure about them, don't don't do business w/ them, scammers are always thinking on ways to screw you

 

[riverratt]

If there are CP members who would do that, we need to flush them out and tar and feather them. :sign:

 

[tone-ny]

Interesting observation, I hope this never occurs!

One way to discourage this is provide the sender your e-mail address. That way when the on-line postal transaction occurs you can get the actual postal e-mail sent to you. In it it has the actual address that the package is going to. All bets are off if it is a post office transaction.

 

[Shooter]

I ship with FedEx or UPS... It is worth a few extra bucks to be able to track down a package. It has happened to me with a full box of Anjeo's. The numbskull gave me the wrong address, UPS was able to verify that it had been delivered to the address and at what time and the receiving party wasw able to go pick it up. I just can't stand USPS tracking service.

 

[Ginseng]

I just can't stand USPS tracking service.

As I understand it from speaking with a USPS counter person, while we can't get the tracking information, if the package is scanned upon sending at the PO, then internally, they are able to track it. That information just isn't given out as the service is generically billed as confirmation and not tracking.

Wilkey