Can I keep a package I didn't order?

Is this legal? Under state and federal law, recipients of unordered merchandise may keep the goods and are under no obligation to pay for or return them. The recipient may treat the merchandise as an unconditional gift—and may use or dispose of the merchandise as he or she sees fit.

What to do if I receive a package that I didn't order?

Can you keep a package that was mistakenly delivered to you?

Legally, you're allowed to keep a mistaken delivery. Surprising, right? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules that allow you to keep merchandise that's wrongly delivered — even if you didn't pay for it. The logic is that sellers can't just send you goods and demand money for them.

What happens if you get a package that isn't yours?

When you receive a mistaken delivery, call customer service for the delivery company and explain the situation. Give them the tracking number on the package, as well as the name and address on the package if it's different from yours. The company will come and pick up the product within a reasonable time frame.

Is it illegal to keep someone else's packages?

By law, you may keep the merchandise and consider it a gift. Of course, if the merchandise is delivered to you by mistake, instead of to the person named on the address, you cannot keep it. This seems to say that it comes down to whom it is addressed to. As long as the merchandise is addressed to you, you may keep it.

Received an Amazon package you didn’t order? It could be a scam

Can I keep a package that was delivered to me by mistake Amazon?

Is it illegal to keep someone else's packages? It's not illegal to keep a package that you didn't order. The Federal Trade Commission states that you don't need to pay or return a package that was accidentally sent to you.

Can I keep a package that was delivered to my address with someone else's name?

By the law you are not allowed to keep it because of it being someone else's name. You have to either physically take it to the post office and let them know that person doesn't live at your address.

What happens if I keep someone else's package?

Intentionally opening, intercepting or hiding someone else's mail is the felony crime of mail theft. It comes with some heavyweight penalties, including five years' incarceration in a federal prison.”

What to do if you receive someone else's parcel?

Should you receive something that was not ordered by you, the right thing to do is get in touch with the sender and then ask the courier to take the parcel back. Usually, deliveries that you receive but didn't order are labeled by the courier as “unsolicited goods”.

What if I get someone else's Amazon package?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, any merchandise mailed to you that you did not order may be legally kept as a free gift. That goes for Amazon or any other retailer who ships goods, and includes any incorrect items mailed to your address, even if the package is correctly addressed to you.

What happens if my neighbor keeps my package?

First off if you can prove they took it is to call the police and let them deal with it. Mail theft is a federal offense. If you have no proof then contact the place the package was sent from to report it stolen. Sometimes they will replace the item.

Can I take my package off someone else's porch?

First mistake - don't take packages off your neighbor's porch. You trespassed.

How do I return an Amazon package I didn't order?

What to do with package delivered to wrong address?

What do you do if you are a victim of brushing?

If the contents of an unsolicited package are suspicious or cause alarm, consider contacting your local law enforcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service recommends calling the Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 to report suspicious or dangerous mail.

What is package brushing?

When a company sends you its product without you first ordering it, they turn you into a verified buyer. They can then post a positive review about their products online, all under your name. By running brushing scams, these companies are also fraudulently increasing their sales numbers.

Why is it called brushing?

The term brushing comes from a translation of the Chinese word for cleaning, according to Hamerstone. “[It's] similar to how in English we talk about money laundering even though it has nothing to do with detergent and washing machines, because it makes the illicit money 'clean,'” he explains.

What happens if someone steals a package from your porch?

If it appears that your package has been stolen, contact the seller or retailer that sold you the item. Retailers have different policies and processes for handling stolen items, but you're usually entitled to a refund or a replacement. Amazon covers most stolen packages through its "A-to-Z" Guarantee Protection.

What do I do if Fedex delivered someone else's package?

Visit our contact us page and submit the query "I received a package that is not mine" in the 'Your Virtual Support Assistant' box on the top center of the page. Follow the steps to open a case with customer service to investigate your delivery.

Does Amazon care about stolen packages?

If a customer hasn't received their goods, they'll receive a refund for the cost by submitting an Amazon Stolen Package Claim. This guarantee also applies to damaged or inferior products received as well.

What do thieves do with stolen packages?

What do thieves do with stolen packages? Many thieves steal because they simply have the opportunity. They see a package out for a few days and figure it's an easy thing to swipe. They may keep your package, sell it in a pawnshop or Craigslist, or even re-gift the item.

How common is Amazon package theft?

Nearly 1 in 4 (23 percent) of our respondents say that they've had a package stolen in the three months leading up to March 2022, beating the previous peak in December 2020.

Is stealing Amazon packages a felony?

Most people know that mail theft is a federal crime. In fact, it's a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This applies whether a letter or package is sent via UPS, USPS or FedEx.

Does FedEx investigate stolen packages?

FedEx provides a clear claim process for stolen packages. As such, if you placed an order and shipped any items through FedEx, you can easily claim the lost package online. Once you have placed the claim, the courier resolves the claim within five to seven days.

What do you call people who steal packages?

The term porch pirate is used to refer to people who steal packages from other people's homes.