# Scam... or idiot? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432 "2024-07-18T19:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/1 "2024-07-18T19:23:00Z")
So, my MIL receives a package. Package is delivered via USPS, with signature required. FIL signs for it, MIL opens the package, there’s nothing in it, no product, card or packing slip, just an empty padded envelope. The return address is from some apparently fly by night outfit in Jersey City, NJ called The Value Store, located on the second floor of a residential building. What’s the gag? I mean, as far as anyone knows, nobody attempted to purchase something for my MIL, she herself didn’t buy anything from this Value Store, and as far as I can tell, The Value Store isn’t a store at all, no online presence, no way to buy something, it’s an LLC with an address. MIL’s name and address are correct, the return address is valid, and The Value Store is listed as an LLC operating in NJ at the return address listed on the envelope. Did some struggling small business owner spend $4-8 to send an empty envelope to a random old lady 50 miles away? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/2 "2024-07-18T19:37:22Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Did some struggling small business owner spend $4-8 to send an empty envelope to a random old lady 50 miles away? [Maybe.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushing_(e-commerce)) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/3 "2024-07-18T20:10:59Z")
So go on line and give them a scathing zero star review. Say they sent an empty package that was damaged and full of anthrax. or similar. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/4 "2024-07-18T20:18:34Z")
Might be tricky if the addressee of the scam package didn’t already have their own Amazon account before this (in other words, the scammer created a new Amazon account as part of the scam process). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/5 "2024-07-18T20:52:17Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > So go on line and give them a scathing zero star review. I’d be thrilled to do that if I could find any online presence or Amazon retailer account to thrash with my rapier wit. All I have right now is some sort of garnished wage court record for the Registered Agent of The Value Store, and that they may have once run a now defunct mini-mart in Jersey City. It’s terribly unsatisfying. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/6 "2024-07-19T13:07:32Z")
I think they use this as “proof of shipment” As in hey, I did ship you a $1000 item you bought and it went to the address you provided (prove it isn’t). I’m out and clear, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/7 "2024-07-19T21:25:37Z")
Which means the OP is an unwilling prop in a scam involving someone else. I’m not sure which is worse, being scammed or being a prop in someone else’s. Being scammed is worse, of course. Far worse. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/8 "2024-07-20T01:57:45Z")
It just sucks every way because you are basically helpless. That’s the part I hate. I want to be able to DO something. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/9 "2024-07-20T02:08:52Z")
Why do you need to do anything? Just don’t worry about it and don’t let it take up any space in your head. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/10 "2024-07-20T03:32:55Z")
Chuck it in the bin and move on with your lives. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/11 "2024-07-20T03:42:46Z")
I don’t know how this works-when you sign for a package, who has access to that signature? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/12 "2024-07-22T13:04:30Z")
I had something happen last night that made me think “Scam? Or idiot?” and rather than start a new thread I figured I’d post it here. About 10:30 pm I got two text messages back to back that looked like something called Life360 was sending me a two factor authentication code. Life360 appears to some kind of family safety/tracking app. My guess is someone was signing up or logging in and fat fingered their phone number, which is how I got their 2FA code. And then they probably hit Resend Code when they didn’t get it the first time, which is why I got two different codes. But could it be something more insidious? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/13 "2024-07-22T14:20:38Z")
Years ago, we got a very nice flashlight from Amazon. Called Customer Service, who said “No, it’s not a mistake. A seller’s just trying to boost their ratings\*. Keep the flashlight.” So, someone gave us a $70 (very powerful) flashlight… it’s been our go-to when power goes out. Can’t be _that_ effective of a business practice, can it? \*See that _Brushing_ link upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/14 "2024-07-22T14:30:00Z")
Yeah, they use the tracking to prove _something_ was delivered; not necessarily the same or any _something_ that was ever sent to the recipient. I tested an obvious scam on Wish (a GPD Pocket laptop advertised for about $30); the item was marked as ‘shipped’, then later ‘delivered’, but nothing at all arrived on my doorstep; when I checked the tracking data, it was for a consignment that was described as ‘fishing tackle’ and had been delivered somewhere about 60 miles away from me. Scammers just entered the tracking data for a consignment that was sent to that location, on my transaction, and this will probably have enabled them to withdraw payment from the marketplace venue where I ordered it. They probably used the same tracking data on a number of different scam transactions (I doubt the system checks for duplicate tracking numbers on different consignments as that’s the sort of thing that would go wrong frequently - some carriers recycle tracking numbers on a shorter timescale than others) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scam-or-idiot/1004432/15 "2024-07-22T14:51:13Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Say they sent an empty package that was damaged and full of anthrax. or similar. Um … I think that is actually illegal. LOL