Haverhill Police are warning residents of an unusual scam where a courier delivers a lavish gift and needs to collect only a small amount for delivery and “verification.”
One victim told Haverhill Police a courier called ahead recently to ask if the person who would be home to accept a delivery.
“…about an hour later, a uniformed delivery man turned up with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine,” the resident recounted for police. “I was very surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I certainly didn’t expect anything like it.” The resident inquired of the sender, but was told a card would be delivered separately. Before the delivery driver departed, however, he asked for a $3.50 “delivery/verification charge” because the package contained alcohol and required someone over the age of 21 to accept.
Seeming to be a reasonable explanation, the resident offered cash, but was advised a credit or debit card had to be used since couriers are not allowed to carry cash. Again, the explanation seemed to make sense and the resident’s husband used a credit card and entered a PIN.
Over the next few days, to the family’s shock, $4,000 had been charged or withdrawn from their card at various ATM machines. Police theorize the delivery driver captured enough information to create a duplicate charge card.
“Beware of strangers bearing gifts,” police said. “..The only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction,” officials advise.
That is a new one. To have a truck and uniform means these folks are getting even more serious. Thanks for alerting us to this one.