An unexpected gift on Valentine’s Day might seem like a nice way to a loved one’s heart, but these deliveries may also give scammers a direct route to a victim’s credit card, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Forer explains that in the “Bogus Delivery Scam,” the victim gets a phone call from a “shipping company” to schedule a delivery. Then, the scammer, sometimes dressed in uniform, arrives at the victim’s house with the package.

If asked who sent it, the scammer might say that he or she doesn’t know or that the sender’s card will be shipped separately. Then, the scanner says the recipient must pay a small delivery fee.

The con artist insists payment can be made only via a credit card, giving the victim the impression that the transaction is legitimate. The credit card gets swiped on a mobile machine and a receipt is printed.

While the victim may have received a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a fine bottle of wine, the thief more likely will get the bigger gift: a shopping spree with the victim’s credit card number.

TIPS:

• Never accept a package if the sender is unknown
• Do not give out credit or debit card information unless the transaction was personally initiated.
• Be suspicious of packages from unrecognized delivery services.

Ed. Note: This information provided to KHTS News by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

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