www.aarp.org/volunteer. You’ll get an email or text message that claims to come from the U.S. Page 2 of 4 Identity Theft Victim’s Packet Rev. Do hover your cursor over links in a supposed delivery email to display the actual target URL. Clicking a link will take you to a website where you can straighten things out. A call, email or text from someone claiming to be a mail carrier or a parcel delivery service saying that they were unable to deliver a package to your home. They’re on the hunt for easy targets. Copyright 2020 WMTV. Have packages sent to your workplace or the home of a nearby friend or relative. Identity theft can be very costly as thieves rack up vast charges in your name (.Elise Amendola-The Associated Press) Fraud, identity theft increasing, Canadians seem complacent The BBB explained the way the scam works, saying people could get a call, email or text from someone claiming to be in charge of delivering mail or packages. Simple enough. LITITZ BOROUGH - The LBPD patrol function received a report from a resident who lives in the 000 Block of South Spruce Street, that sometime during the overnight hours between 11/25/2020 and 11/26/2020, an unknown person(s) opened a package which had been delivered to their front porch and stole personal hygiene items inside. An estimated 23 million Americans have had a package stolen from the front of their homes before they could retrieve it, according to a recent study done by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Free calculators to help manage your money, Rate bonus on high-yield online savings account, Real-life solutions to help close the retirement savings gap. Buy one of these and never again worry about mail theft or mailbox bashing. Postal Service or a major delivery company like FedEx or UPS. Older adults report package theft during the holidays. Require a Signature With Delivery Perhaps the easiest way to avoid having your package stolen is to choose the delivery option, which requires somebody to sign for it. Comments: 0. Don’t reveal your user ID or password for a delivery company’s website to a caller, or to anyone else. In light of that story, here are all the free name/address verification services you should sign up for with the major package delivery services. As long as the sun shines our locking mailboxes will too! Instead, find and call the company’s official customer-service number and ask if they were genuinely trying to contact you about a delivery. Don’t click on a link or open an attachment in an unsolicited email or text message that appears to be from a delivery company. Upon delivery, you'll receive the combination needed to retrieve your package. Report the incident to your local police and get a file number for future reference. Postal Inspection Service at, If you have questions about a delivery notice from the U.S. Invest in the Package Box or the Senator Mailbox for the security you need. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Pizza delivery and package delivery are not the same. Postal Service or a major delivery company like FedEx or UPS. The message includes misspellings or poor grammar. Personal Delivery: $29/mo or $19/mo $3.99 per package: On demand package delivery and returns, 7 days a week. There are low-tech variations, too. Do consider these steps to thwart porch pirates: Ask neighbors to pick up your deliveries when you’re not home. It’s easy to use and share these free resources from the FTC. DHL ProView. Advertisement. Package delivery redirect has become an opportunity for credit card fraud and identity theft. The District Attorney's Office has some tips for residents to prevent package theft: Check the delivery window for your package and be home, if possible, when the package … Be aware of the ramifications. to search for ways to make a difference in your community at While package theft can happen any time of the year, you need to pay extra attention around the holidays and when the weather warms up. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. This package contains the forms that are necessary for identity theft victims to effectively deal with creditors and government agencies after their identification is lost or stolen. Dec. 19, 2020 5:00 a.m. PT. These “porch pirates” watch for delivery vans that leave legitimately purchased merchandise at consumers’ doorsteps, ideally when the targets aren’t home, then swoop in and make off with the goods. Recovering from identity theft is a process. | Here’s step-by-step advice that can help you limit the damage, report identity theft, and fix your credit. Don’t give out personal or credit card information to a caller. These measures can help: Have your packages delivered elsewhere, such as your place of employment, an Amazon delivery site, P.O. Join AARP today. box, or FedEx/UPS location. Needham Police log: Suspicious breaking and entering, identity theft, and stolen package recovered, Needham Police Department Arrests, summons, and … Do rely on safe ways to communicate with delivery companies. Is your mailbox on a busy road? Learn how to protect packages from theft and secure your mail from the ever increasing incidence of mail theft. The link takes you to a bogus site where you’ll be asked to enter personal or financial data, enabling a crook to use it for identity theft. Scammers love the trend, too, and have developed tricks to take advantage of the proliferation of packages, especially during the holiday season. In all likelihood, it’s a ruse. The BBB warned that the caller will then ask you to verify personal information or give credit card information to reschedule the delivery, which is a sign that this situation will put someone at risk for identity theft. Of course, the whole point of package delivery is convenience; driving to a store kind of defeats the purpose. You get an email or other communication about a delivery of something you don’t remember ordering. Stop package theft now: 5 smart home devices that protect your deliveries . High Yield Savings from Marcus by Goldman Sachs. This reduces the chance of package theft, but depending on your working conditions, this may be more hassle than it’s worth. In the age of increasing online orders and home package delivery, many homeowners need mailboxes that can receive small to medium-sized parcels for safe-keeping. Postal Service, visit its. The message may say you need to confirm an order so it can be delivered, or that an unsuccessful attempt … Call a confirmed customer-service number, or log on to a company’s official website and use the chat function. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. AARP members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change. Do keep track of your online orders and their shipping status. again. This frame is used to deliver ForeSee functionality to your website. These thieves commonly strike during working hours as many homes are empty at that time. MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The Better Business Bureau is reporting an uptick in package delivery scams Tuesday, which could put people at risk to having their personal information taken. You can also report the theft to other organizations, such as: Credit Reporting Agencies - Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies to place fraud alerts or freezes on your accounts. A package delivery bag for your door, office or apartment that eliminates damaged goods from bad weather and reduces the risk of theft. In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails Report Identity Theft to Other Organizations. Quiz: Are you protected from these holiday scams? Consumers love the ease and convenience of ordering products online and having them delivered to their doorsteps. or browse recovery steps. Sign up for Watchdog Alerts for more tips on avoiding scams. Pick an alternate delivery location The easiest way to avoid package theft is simply not to have packages left on your porch in the first place. In fact, your mailbox is the riskiest non-technological point for identity theft, according to a study released in October 2007 by Heith Copes and Lynne Vieratis. Whether you have been personally affected by scams or fraud or are interested in learning more, the AARP Fraud Watch Network advocates on your behalf and equips you with the knowledge you need to feel more informed and confidently spot and avoid scams. AARP Placing a secure parcel box in addition to your mailbox away from the road where traffic whizzes by is another smart home idea. You’ll get an email or text message that claims to come from the U.S. FTC Identity Theft Affidavit A copy of the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit can be found at the end of this packet. -43f1fa86a8431078.JPG. No more wasting time at home waiting for a delivery or having to go somewhere to use a locker. First and foremost, we can invest in a locking mailbox. Some package crooks resort to even simpler means. A supposed delivery company email has a sender’s address or link with a slightly different version of a business name, such as fedx.com. If you're a victim of identity fraud: place flags on all of your accounts; change all of your passwords; report the fraud to both credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) Contact the police. "Identity theft is also on the rise so if you spot any suspicious activity on your account report it to your bank immediately. Identity Theft Affidavit (some may require that you use their own affidavit), Letter of Dispute, and a copy of the FACTA Law. Tax Identity Theft - Report tax ID theft to the Internal Revenue Service. Thieves can follow delivery trucks, watching for prime targets. Work delivery: You could also use your work address and have packages delivered there, when possible. MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The Better Business Bureau is reporting an uptick in package delivery scams Tuesday, which could put people at risk to having their personal information taken. Postal Service emails to the U.S. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to prevent package theft is not to allow packages to sit outside for too long. If the notice names a company, call its official customer-service line to check on a supposed delivery. You can help people learn about identity theft — whether you’re chatting with friends and family, sharing info on a social networking site, or taking resources to a religious group or PTA meeting. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. BBB warns of package delivery scams that can result in identity theft, Wisconsin hospital worker arrested for spoiled vaccine doses, NBC to air New Year's Eve special tonight. Then, they will tell you that they were unable to deliver a package to your home. The caller may sound friendly or the email message may contain official logos or professional language, making the situation seem legitimate. In the meantime, please feel free Report suspected package scams to the Federal Trade Commission, If you receive a suspicious message that claims to be from UPS, forward it to, If the message appears to be from FedEx, or if you visit what you think might be a phony FedEx website, report it at, Forward suspicious U.S. Here’s step-by-step advice that can help you limit the damage, report identity theft, and fix your credit. Don’t call the number on a delivery notice left on your door. Erie County District Attorney: How to avoid package delivery theft As Christmas gets closer and closer, more and more packages are landing on the steps of Erie County residents. Creating a safe buffer of space between this activity and your home is smart. En español | E-commerce is booming. Log In; En Español; Unemployment Benefits Identity Theft Click here to report . Recovering from identity theft is a process. This means that it cannot be left on your doorstep and would have to be put into your hand. If you find suspicious activity on your credit report, update your file with the police. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. The Porch Pod connects to your home WiFi and uses tracking bar codes from FedEx, UPS, USPS, and more to validate package deliveries and unlock. Do be wary of unsolicited phone or electronic communications from a delivery service. They also advised that people keep track of their packages and deliveries, never give personal information to strangers and never click on links from unsolicited emails. Packages are sent to background verified Doorman drivers and kept securely, until youÕre ready to schedule it to be delivered (evenings, weekends). Or they’ll leave a failed-delivery notice on your door with a number to call; if you do, the person on the other end will try to talk you into providing personal information to collect your purported package. Ethical merchants are thwarting this … If the person does not remember ordering something, the caller may try to convince the person that it is a gift from a friend or relative. The scammer is hoping you order so many things online that you can’t keep track of all your purchases, or that you’ll assume it’s a gift from a friend or relative. Here’s step-by-step advice that can help you limit the damage, report identity theft, and fix your credit. Delivered packages from theft Save more than $ 100 and keep your deliveries benefits theft. Get an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to aarp volunteering accept multiple deliveries. Member benefits & affect social change your account at anytime use your work address and have packages sent your... 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