Authorities in New Hampshire have spotted a new type of scam everyone should be on the lookout for where stolen information is used to purchase items without victims’ knowledge. Here's the next wrinkle: Thieves will then pick up items from random homes before anyone realizes they're there.
Suspects carried out one such scam last Thursday, said the Hollis Police Department.
According to police, video footage shows a vehicle – believed to be a newer model Honda Accord – dropping off a subject at a home on Silver Lake Road in Hollis, N.H. After the vehicle left, the subject can be seen walking across the street to a home then quickly leaving to and walk southbound on the roadway, where the vehicle eventually picked them up again and traveled northbound.
Upon further investigation, the department determined that the package contained electronics that had been to delivered to the home by FedEx.
Although it was addressed to the home’s residents, the products were not ordered by them, police said.
This incident is an example of what the department referred to as a “very popular” scam where stolen information is used to purchase items and deliver them to random addresses.
“Those involved in the theft will track the shipments, and attempt to retrieve them as soon as the delivery is made,” the Hollis Police Department explained. In this case, they were able to retrieve the package.
However, authorities were still searching for the alleged suspects as of Friday.
Anyone with potential information about the incident can contact the Hollis Police Department at 603-465-7637.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, there has been an uptick in packaged delivery-related scams since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the increase in deliveries, the FCC has received complaints about delivery notification scam calls and texts, proving once again that fraudsters are following the trends and adapting their scams to steal your money and information,” said the commission, which provides tips about avoiding scams.
Related
Related
