Neighbors accuse resident of stealing after she throws away their packages that were delivered to her house, resident gets warned about being scammed: ‘They guilt you into paying them off’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 3, 2024 1:00 PM EST

It is funny how nothing stops you from having packages delivered to any random house, as long as you know the address. There is little to no reason to do so, but if one wants, they can send anyone anything with only a few clicks on their phones.

Apparently, some people have packages delivered to other people's houses as a form of scam—they send the packages to another house, wait a few days, arrive to claim those packages, and then, if the person who received them already threw them out, they accuse them of stealing and demand compensation. 

That is what the people of Reddit suspect happened in this story, and they warned the person who wrote the story (OP, original poster) from further interaction with her neighbors. OP received unknown packages at her house and didn't know who they belonged to, weeks later she decided to donate them, only to be immediately accused by her neighbors of being a thief. 

Keep scrolling to read the full story. After you are done, check out this story of an automation employee who ensured their boss never received a raise again.

Advertisement
  • 01
    "You had no right to take our packages"
    via RoschetzkyIstockPhoto
  • 02
    AITAH for donating packages i didnt order.
    via Elyxiun
  • 03
    Start of October, I came home to 3 large boxes with the same last name addressed to my house. I called my mom to confirm whether we were expecting anything from overseas relatives.
    via Elyxiun
  • 04
    When she confirmed we weren't expecting anything, she called the number provided on the packages. They stated they didn't want it and to do whatever I wanted with it and provided no
    via Elyxiun
  • 05
    information. The 3 boxes contained misc items like jars of spices and lots of packaged clothes. I wasn't a fan of the clothes so after putting off the donation for 2 weeks, I dropped
    via Elyxiun
  • 06
    off the clothes at a donation box. Today, October 27, my mom called asking if I still had the contents of the boxes and my neighbor called her to say it was theirs and they wanted it back. I
    via Elyxiun
  • 07
    told her I either donated or tossed everything. During the evening at 9, I return to my house to see a group of 7 people crowding my yard. They demanded to know what
    via Elyxiun
  • 08
    happened to their package and that I essentially stole their stuff. If I wasn't expecting a package then I should've left it outside and I had no right to throw their stuff away. The situation was
    via Elyxiun
  • 09
    escalating and they were getting very aggressive. I showed them the shipping label that showed my address on the box but their only concern was I stole their stuff. They threatened to give me
    via Elyxiun
  • 10
    1 day to return their stuff or they would pursue legal action. I had called the cop at this point as they were causing a ruckus and yelling. When the cops arrived they talked to us and our neighbor. That neighbor was
    via Elyxiun
  • 11
    accusing us of stealing the expensive jewelry in the boxes. The boxes had no such items and looked to be from a dropshipping company. In any case, I'm starting to question whether I am at fault.
    via Elyxiun
  • 12
    Our neighbor confirmed the phone number on the boxes was hers but during the call, they said they wanted our address to pick up the stuff. Since they lied about the content of the boxes I have
    via Elyxiun
  • 13
    little reason to believe in what they say. In hindsight, I could've done other things but what's done is done. If this does happen again then I know what to do. I talked to friends after this happened and they said if they
    via Elyxiun
  • 14
    were in their shoes they would also be upset if someone donated their items. Am I the a__h_le? edit: I realise now the wording is unclear. The last name on the
    via Elyxiun
  • 15
    boxes is the same as mine which is why I asked my mom if we were expecting anything from relatives. Thank you to everyone for informing me of the potential scam. I had no idea that was a common practice.
    via Elyxiun
  • 16
    Excellent-Count4009 • 2d ago Commander in Cheeks [221] NTA They used your adress for some shady purposes. "If this does happen again then I know what to do." ... DON'T give it to the neighbor. Don't allow them to use your
    via Excellent-Count4009
  • 17
    adress. You would share responsibility for their bulls there are a lot of shady reasons to use your adress, adn no good ones. - Storing it, sending it back, keeping it, donating it - all is fine. - This could be anything from evasion of import taxes to using
    via Excellent-Count4009
  • 18
    you as their c dropoff - or even stolen credit cards or some other fraud, or evan establishing residency at your home - all of it would point to YOUR home. If their activites were completely legal, they would use their own adress.
    via Excellent-Count4009
  • 19
    Elyxiun OP.2d ago • True :/ I never considered they were trying to scam us. With the sudden change in attitude I assumed the 3rd party wouldn't give a refund so they started harassing me instead.
    via Elyxiun
  • 20
    RedundantRico • 2d ago • This has been a common scam recently. The send you a a package, tell you to throw it out. Once its gone they do the swarming and accusing to guilt you into paying them off for fear of reprisal in a lawful manner.
    via RedundantRico
  • 21
    This is why they claim items are in the box of high value. The thing is, unless they have a ledger and proof of what was in the boxed you threw out they cant do anything to you as its just he said she said and that doesn't amount to anything in court.
    via RedundantRico
  • 22
    Also if they showed up at your house 2 weeks afterwards, they have no justification to stand on when asked why they didn't make an immediate effort to retrieve the goods.
    via RedundantRico
  • 23
    Elyxiun OP.2d ago I see, I had no idea that was so common. It was my first time experiencing someone contacting me directly and not their carrier.
    via Elyxiun
  • 24
    • igwbuffalo 2d ago • Also, request a report from the responding officer from the incident and request that the individuals that were on the property causing the call be trespassed from the property should they try again
    via igwbuffalo
  • 25
    Elyxiun OP.2d ago I did ask the officers about what could be done but they said they couldn't do much. The man they were with was very aggressive walking up to me and getting in my face yelling. I was very grateful my other neighbors came out to help.
    via Elyxiun
  • 26
    greedy4information 2d ago • I'd also like to add that if you are opening a package that isn't yours, always make a video recording to have proof, just in case.
    via greedy4information
  • 27
    Elyxiun OP.2d ago • Thankfully i took a picture of the shipping labels and everything inside.
    via Elyxiun
  • 28
    LoSboccacc 2d ago • Edited 1d ago Police used to have a lost and found office, if it's still the case drop the packages there, in the conditions found.
    via LoSboccacc
  • 29
    Homeboat199 • 2d ago • Part ipant [2] How about Don't open packages that aren't yours. Send them back.
    via Homeboat199
  • 30
    Elyxiun OP 2d ago Fair enough. I did call to check first but next till ill call the return address instead.
    via Elyxiun
  • 31
    Pristine_Ad5229 2d ago NTA guess you found who the scammers are in your neighborhood.
    via Pristine_Ad5229
  • 32
    cookerg 2d ago • NTA. They (1) deliberately sent it to the wrong address and name, (2) refused it when you called them, and (3) lied about the contents. The whole thing could be a scam intended to intimidate you into paying more than the garbage was worth.
    via cookerg

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

aita neighbors stealing house neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories package reddit story petty entitled Reddit money delivery entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article