People across the United States are being warned about a new scam involving fake package deliveries. Scammers are knocking on doors and tricking people into giving away expensive items, leaving some victims with big financial losses. Police are urging residents to stay alert as this scam is becoming more common across the country.
The scam starts with criminals purchasing high-value items like phones, computers, or jewelry using someone else’s name and address. These packages are then sent to unsuspecting homeowners. The thieves usually track the package and try to steal it from the doorstep before the real recipient even knows it has arrived. However, if the package has already been taken inside, the scammers switch to another tactic.
To retrieve the stolen goods, scammers knock on the door and claim that the package was delivered by mistake. They act innocent, pretending they are simply looking for their “missing” delivery. Many people, believing it to be an honest mistake, hand over the package without realizing they have just given away expensive items. Sheriff Jerry Goodin from Scott County, Indiana, explained that these criminals often track delivery confirmation numbers, allowing them to know exactly when the package will arrive. This helps them show up at the right time to trick the homeowner.
In some cases, scammers don’t just rely on homeowners handing over the package. They have also been seen waiting for mail carriers to arrive so they can pretend to be the rightful recipient. This method allows them to intercept the package before the actual homeowner even knows about it. Recently, law enforcement in Kentucky and southern Indiana has been warning residents to stay cautious, as multiple cases of this scam have been reported in those areas.
One example of this scam took place in Louisville, where a homeowner received two unexpected cell phones in the mail. Shortly after, two women appeared at her doorstep with a well-rehearsed story about the “missing” items. One of them even claimed her name was Sonya and that someone had mistakenly left the package at the house. Fortunately, the homeowner was suspicious and decided to call the police instead of handing over the phones. The authorities later took the stolen items into custody, preventing the scammers from getting away with their crime.
Sheriff Goodin advises people to be very careful about sharing personal details online, as this is how scammers often find addresses to send stolen goods. He warns that if a situation seems suspicious or feels unsafe, it’s best to be cautious and report it to the police.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service recently lifted a temporary ban on packages from China and Hong Kong. Officials from USPS and Customs and Border Protection are working together to make sure the new tariffs on Chinese imports are properly enforced. This change comes after an executive order that added a 10% tariff on imports from China. Popular online retailers like Shein and Temu, which send large numbers of packages to the U.S., may have to increase their prices due to these new policies.
