Britons are being warned about a growing phenomenon of mystery parcels arriving at their doorstep, bearing no resemblance to any online purchase they may have made. According to experts, the scams work by using stolen personal details to send out unsolicited products, often containing cheap or worthless items such as low-grade jewellery.
The packages, which are usually marked as 'FREE' and sent via a courier service, arrive with no indication of who has sent them or why. It is not uncommon for the contents to be of little value, prompting victims to feel embarrassed about opening the package in the first place.
However, the real sting in the tail comes when fake online reviews start appearing on marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon, further damaging the victim's reputation and potentially leading to more problems with their credit score. The scams have been reported across various parts of the UK, with some victims claiming to have lost hundreds of pounds through this deception.
The issue has sparked concern among consumer experts, who are urging people to be vigilant when receiving unsolicited packages and to report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities immediately.