Package delivery scams have become more prevalent, so people should double-check the details of the delivery and refuse to claim packages that seem suspicious, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said.
The bureau’s Crime Prevention Division cited law enforcement authorities last month as saying that online shopping-related fraud schemes were on the rise, with 3,625 people reporting that they had been tricked into paying for delivered items they did not order.
People have been receiving fraudulent e-mails, texts or messages on social media saying they had a package waiting at a local convenience store, bureau officials said.
Photo: CNA
Division chief Chuang Ming-hsiung (莊明雄) said a man surnamed Hsieh (謝) earlier this month told police he had received a text message saying that an item ordered online had been delivered to a convenience store in his neighborhood.
Hsieh was not sure if he had placed the order and thought that maybe a family member bought something online, so he went to the convenience store to pick up the item, for which he paid about NT$1,000, Chuang said.
Hsieh found a tube of sunscreen inside and asked his family if they had ordered it, but they said they did not, Chuang said, adding that when Hsieh realized he had fallen victim to a “package delivery scam,” he reported it to the police.
It is common in Taiwan to have online purchases delivered to a convenience store.
Package delivery scams are divided into two groups, he said.
“The first is fraudulent one-page ads promoting ‘discounts,’ ‘limited time offers,’ or ‘pay upon delivery’ for items,” Chuang said. “However, the items that arrive are of bad quality or are not as advertised.”
“The second type is a ‘ghost package,’ where a person is told a package had been sent to a convenience store near them,” he said. “Most people think a family member had purchased it, so they pay for it and pick it up, but they later find out nobody had ordered it.”
Many such scams have criminal organizations behind them, who pretend they are a foreign e-commerce business or are an online shopping site on social media, Chuang said, adding that they claim to work with legitimate customs brokers and delivery firms to deceive people.
The bureau advised people not to pick up items they did not order and verify all details before paying for them, to avoid getting scammed, adding that they should also double check the item invoice, price and fees, as well as the address and other details of the sender.
Even if one receives a message saying a package is waiting for them, they should not pick it up if they had not ordered anything or if they do not know who sent it, the bureau said.
It also advised people to choose businesses with a good reputation when shopping online.
“If the business only provides an e-mail, Line ID or a contact at a foreign country,” it is most likely a fraud operation, the bureau added.
People should keep the package and the delivery container, proof of payment, invoice and package slip, as convenience stores have a telephone number they could contact to file a complaint or report fraud, it said.
Officials also reminded the public that Taiwan has a seven-day return policy, so people can return the package to the store within that time frame without charge, and call the 165 anti-fraud hotline to report suspected fraud.
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