Did you receive a package you never ordered that has ‘Tuvalu’ written on it? Does it contain cheap jewellery or scarf? You’re being targeted by fraudsters! Unordered packages in the mail is one of the tell-tale signs of brushing scam or bait and switch scam.
Tuvalu Unordered Package Scam Explained
The Tuvalu unordered package scam falls into tw categories ‘Brushing Scam‘ and ‘Bait & Switch scam‘. For the brushing scam, most of the recipients of the package never ordered anything online but received a package.
The Bait & Switch scam on the other hand targets victims via Social media Ads, use discount sales to lure them, get them to place an order online, and then send cheap items different from what was ordered.
How Tuvalu Brushing Scam Works
Tuvalu brushing scam is performed by fake websites to prevent angry customers from demanding a refund. For example, Seller A pretends to sell scooters online for a 50% discount. The offer pulls in lots of buyers who place an order hoping to receive the scooters. In order to claim the total money and escape chargeback from PayPal or credit card companies, Seller A sends cheap items via USP to US addresses. Then forwards the tacking info to the customers.
Note; the addresses were acquired via any of the following means; data breach of e-commerce sites, public records, or via shady online brokers.
When customers don’t receive the scooters and demand for a refund, Seller A sends the tracking info as ‘proof’ to the credit card companies. Claiming the item has been delivered. That way it’s almost impossible for victims of the scooter scam to get a refund.
What To Do
If you didn’t order anything online yet have a package from ‘Tuvalu’, the best actions to take are these;
- Immediately notify your post office and make an effort to return the packages to avoid being accused of theft.
- Report to the police as your data is currently available to scammers online.
- Be wary of scammers who will try to reach out to you pretending that the products were sent to them by mistake. They may try to intimidate you into sending them money to pay for the items or even offer to show up at the address to take possession themselves.
- Monitor your mail for any more unsolicited packages.
On the other hand, if you had ordered something from an online merchant and receive the unordered package from Tuvalu, take the following actions;
Cancel your credit card
Immediately call your financial provider and cancel your credit card. By so doing, the credit card details you used for your transaction on the scam store would become null and void. That way, the scammers wouldn’t be able to place future charges on it.
Request for a new card
After the old credit card has been cancelled, ask for a new card, it doesn’t cost much to get one.Your credit card issuer will issue you a new one with different numbers.
Report the Fraud To Relevant Authorities
Report the scam to relevant authorities and organizations. This includes:
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): If you are in the United States, you can file a complaint with the IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov/.
- Your Local Consumer Protection Agency: Contact your local consumer protection agency or the equivalent regulatory body in your country.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): File a complaint with the BBB if the online store is based in the United States.
Tips for Spotting Online Shopping Scams
Aside from the obvious too good to be true discount sale, here are other ways to identify a scam website;
Check Website Registration Age
How old is the website? The domain age of a website tells a lot about a store’s legitimacy or transparency. Websites below 6 months old are often considered unsafe. You can find out a website’s age by checking on Who.is ( a free domain checker tool)
Find Out If The Website Has SSL Encryption
find out if the website is secured with SSL encryption. (https and padlock symbols). If the padlock symbol doesn’t appear near the website’s URL, then it means your personal and financial information is at risk at the store.
Verify The Business Address
Does The website provide return address? If Yes (Copy the address and paste on your browser. Google map would show if it is a real warehouse address or a residential address) If the address has also been used by other websites you’d see reviews in search results.
Search For Reviews Online
Are there customer reviews online? (It is advised that you sit it out if there are no customer reviews of the store. However if you’re not patient enough to wait you can send a mail to us to verify if the store is legit)
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