I have received two letters from an online shop about an “order” that hasn’t been paid for. The order was placed while I was on holiday, and the shop one I had never heard of. The letters have my address, my first name but a made up surname.
I finally managed to speak to someone today who told me what the order was, sexy black lingerie. That confirmed it definitely wasn’t me.
Given the date, it can only have been my Housesitter who ordered and received the order.
The company has advised me to contact the police as they still want to be paid.
Scam?? I’d really look into the online shop myself…. I’d also send screenshots to your sitter saying you think it’s a scam but for them to be aware. If it’s an online shop it’s their payment system that’s at fault… nobody sends goods that aren’t already paid for in advance plus paid postage.
Why don’t you follow their advice?
Online purchases are always paid for during checkout unless there is a financial deal between the shop and the bank. But even then the bank pays and you later pay the bank.
Google the company name and keyword scam or search BBB directory. You may find the info you´re looking for
ADDED: p.s. I just remembered reading somewhere that lingerie, and even more so, pornography, are the number one merchandise used in scams because people are too embarrassed to report it
This all sounds very fishy and hard to believe. It has to be a scam. Tell them if they want to call the police they are welcome to, it isn’t your problem, it is theirs.
As you say, the invoice isn’t even addressed to you.
If you are in the UK , any debt belongs to the person, not to the address.
If you get any further mail addressed to this mystery woman, write ‘NOT KNOW AT THIS ADDRESS’ on the envelope and put it back into a street post box.
This sounds more like a scam than something the sitter has done. I have not come across an online shop that will send anythign without full payment forst by credit card, debit card or bank transfer or 3rd party credit agreement in 30 years of online shopping.
The fact they are sending letters and the items are supposedly lingerie just re-inforce the scamminess and attempt to embarass you into payment.
Have you tried contacting the sitter to ask if they had anything delivered?
Even if I didnt suspect a scam (which I wouldnt have done), I would tell the company to jog on. I didnt place the order, I’m not responsible for it, I’m not paying for it. End of communication.
Thanks for popping on to help OP - it sounds very much like this was a scam as some of you have suggested - I’ve updated the post title to make it a more accurate summary of what’s happened.
I’m going to close the thread to new replies as I don’t think there’s any evidence to say the sitter is at fault here, and the advice given around scams is the best help that we can give.
