Find Out Who Sent Gift From Amazon? Top Answer Update

So someone sent you a gift from Amazon and for some reason you decided it wasn’t a keeper. Maybe it’s not the right size, or you hate the color, or you just don’t need another decorative mug, Carol. Whatever the reason, there’s no shame in returning a gift. If the only thing stopping you from returning a gift sent by Amazon is for the sender to find out you sent it back, we have good news.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to return a gift to Amazon without the gift giver knowing about it.

Here are some guidelines for returning gifts on Amazon:

No Receipt Required: You can return unopened (or in original condition) Amazon gifts without a receipt and still receive a full refund in the form of Amazon gift cards.

: You can return unopened Amazon gifts without a receipt and still receive a full refund in the form of Amazon gift cards. Must return item within 30 days: You have a 30 day window of delivery to return your item for a full refund. Amazon is offering refunds on most items purchased between October 1st and December 31st if returned by January 31st, 2022.

: You have a 30 day window after delivery to return your item for a full refund. Amazon is offering refunds on most items purchased between October 1st and December 31st if returned by January 31st, 2022. Some items may not qualify: The item must list free returns on the product page. Most items sold and fulfilled by Amazon should qualify, but there are certain third-party sellers that may not offer free returns.

Although it is a simple process, it does require a few steps. That’s why we explain exactly how to return a gift to Amazon without notifying the gift giver.

How to Return a Gift on Amazon Without a Receipt (The Sender Will Never Know)

Photo credit: iStock

If you received an Amazon package as a gift, you probably don’t have a receipt. That’s okay because you don’t actually need one to get a refund. Just follow this step-by-step breakdown and you’ll be swimming in Amazon gift cards in no time.

Navigate to the Amazon Returns Center. You must do this in a desktop or laptop browser. The 17-digit order number can be found on the delivery note enclosed with your package. The number is also listed on the digital gift receipt, if you received one. If you cannot find your 17-digit order number, you can try contacting Amazon customer service and give them the tracking number for your order. They can find your order and help you with your refund.

If you do not have the tracking number, the person who sent you the gift must contact Amazon directly for any returns. Once you have the order number, enter the number in the Order Number bar and then click Search. Select the gift you wish to return and select a return reason from the drop down menu. If your gift was purchased from a third party, you will see an option to “Submit a Return Request”. The seller may review your return request before authorizing it. Choose a return method. You can either return the item by post or leave it in an Amazon Hub Locker. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions to complete your return.

Once you have completed the online return process, all you have to do is physically return the item, either by post or in an Amazon Hub Locker. It is not advisable to return multiple items at once as this can cause problems with Amazon’s returns platform. If you want to return several items, it is advisable to repeat the process for each item individually.

How are returned Amazon gifts refunded?

The value of the refunded item will be credited to your Amazon account, which can be used for future Amazon purchases. Cash refunds aren’t available for refunds from a gift recipient, but Amazon gift cards are basically as good as cash these days.

Note that items over $2,000 can only be refunded to the original payment method. In this case, the refund would be made through the person who sent you the gift.

When you return a gift on Amazon, does the sender know?

This is probably the main reason people are reluctant to return gifts, but there’s nothing to worry about. For one, there is nothing wrong with returning a gift. Also, Amazon does not notify the gift giver if you return the gift using either the 17-digit order number or the tracking number. So you can enjoy your refunded Amazon credit without the embarrassment of telling someone you don’t want their gift.

Can you return used items to Amazon?

To receive a full refund, returned items must be unopened and undamaged. You can request a refund for items that aren’t in their original condition, but Amazon probably won’t refund you the full value of the item. This might not be a big issue if you were gifted the item anyway, but it’s worth noting if you’ve already used your gift before deciding to return it.

Can I return Amazon gifts to Kohl’s?

Photo credit: Kohl’s

Returning items through the mail can be a hassle, and there’s not always an Amazon Hub Locker nearby. Fortunately, you can return Amazon packages to Kohl’s in person. Not every Kohl’s location offers this service, but you can visit the Amazon returns center to find out if this option is available to you. For detailed instructions on how to return Amazon gifts at Kohl’s, please see the link below.

Check Out: How to Return Amazon Items to Kohl’s

Can I return Amazon gifts to Whole Foods?

You can return Amazon packages at most Whole Foods locations, and you don’t even need a box or label when you bring your package to the store. Simply initiate the return at the Amazon returns center and select your nearest Whole Foods location. You must bring your item along with the QR code that will be sent to your email to complete the return.

Read more: Returning Amazon packages to Whole Foods is easy, no box or label required

If you have something on your Amazon wishlist, set a deal alert and we’ll let you know when it goes on sale.

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More than a million UK households may have fallen victim to an Amazon scam known as “brushing”.

It’s an unusual scam in that people are actually getting free items – although this has raised concerns about data security.

Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is brushing?

Brushing is a scam where Amazon third-party sellers send people products they never actually bought.

While this might seem like a strange scam at first glance, it has everything to do with exploiting Amazon’s search ranking system.

The algorithm favors items with high sales and good ratings. Consumer Group Which? believes sellers sell low-priced items to people who never bought them, and then count them as legitimate purchases.

This then increases their items in their search rankings and encourages more genuine purchases.

Some of these sellers even create fake accounts for the people they ship items to and leave five-star reviews.

The? conducted a survey of 1,839 people and found that 4 percent of respondents said they or someone in their household received a mysterious Amazon package at their home address that they did not order, which was not sent by a known person and for which they were not adopted a neighbor.

The consumer group said the mystery packages included magnetic eyelashes, eyelash serum, pet and child toys, Bluetooth accessories, iPhone cases, frisbees, medical gloves and more.

All of these items are cheap to ship in bulk, which makes them ideal for such a scam. The? said many of them were originally sent from China.

What should I do if I am a victim of brushing my teeth?

Of those who received a package they didn’t order, 63 percent said they kept it, 28 percent threw it away and 16 percent gave it away.

Amazon is aware of the scam and advises customers to contact customer service if they receive an unwanted package.

It states that sellers can find the names and addresses from publicly available sources. It also said people don’t have to return the items and can do whatever they want with them.

The company said: “Stage by bad actors sourcing names and addresses from various outside sources, ‘brushing’ is a scheme that affects all online marketplaces.

“We estimate that brushing affects less than 0.001 percent of Amazon orders because Amazon has robust processes in place to prevent abuse from impacting our reviews, search rankings, and other customer experiences.

“We will never stop improving the sophistication of abuse prevention in our business and we will continue to take the appropriate enforcement actions, including supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to hold bad actors to account.

“We strongly encourage those who have received unsolicited packages to report this to our customer service team so we can fully investigate and take appropriate action.”

The? Rocio Concha, Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Consumers should have confidence that the popularity and reviews of products they buy online are genuine, so it’s worrying that third-party providers appear to be using brush scams to gain access to Amazon Marketplace to play.

“Amazon needs to do more to thoroughly investigate cases of brush fraud and take strong action against sellers who try to mislead consumers.”

Attempted delivery Store closed – If the store was closed on the day the package arrived, it will be scanned. business closed. If it is a scanned delivery, the package was attempted to be sent and no one was there to take the package or there was no safe place to leave the package. At that time, a notice will be left for the customer to come to the post office and collect it or to tell the post office that they would like redelivery. If there hasn’t been an update, the customer didn’t go to the post office to collect the package and it should still be at the post office.

Delivery attempt will be retried – This means that USPS will attempt delivery again, usually the next day. Then USPS will leave a notice for you to pick up the package at the post office.

For many business owners, certified mail notifications can be unsettling, especially when you know you’ll have to wait a day or two to receive your mail. Luckily, there are ways you can use that little peachy note to pinpoint the likely sender of the letter. Even if you suspect the envelope contains bad news, knowing who sent it can help you prepare for the situation.

Certified post defined

Certified Mail is an add-on service provided by the U.S. Postal service is offered. Senders receive proof that they sent correspondence in the mail, can track an item in transit, and receive proof of delivery. For an additional fee, the sender may also require the person receiving the mail (not necessarily the addressee) to sign for the item. Swiss Post then provides the sender with proof of signature.

Registered mail serves two purposes: it provides additional security for a package or letter during transit and provides the sender with proof that something has been sent. Reasons a sender might want this type of proof include:

The sender is required to mail a contract, check, or other document by a specific date. The certified mail proves that the sender has done what is required.

The sender and recipient are involved in a legal dispute. In some states, registered mail may be used as a method of delivering documents. The certified mail also provides a paper trail that may be needed to document communications during the conflict.

The sender is trying to connect to someone who hasn’t responded to previous communication attempts. By sending a registered letter, the sender can document that they made a good faith effort to be contacted.

notification forms

If the sender of registered mail only requires proof of delivery, the postman will place the letter or package in the recipient’s mailbox after scanning the tracking code. In cases where the sender has requested signature confirmation, the postman will try to find an adult to sign for the delivery. If no one is available to sign for it, the carrier will leave a note letting the recipient know how to either collect the package from the post office or request another delivery attempt. Officially, this notice is a PS Form 3849, also known as “Notice Left.”

Tip PS Form 3849 is used to notify recipients of all types of mail that cannot be delivered. So don’t assume that every peach-colored piece of paper in your mailbox is for registered mail.

Identification of the sender

In 2018, the USPS updated its notification forms to add a field for the postman to write the sender’s name. This should be enough to identify the sender. If for some reason the sender’s name isn’t on the notification, turn it over and you’ll find the item’s tracking code. Visit USPS.com and submit the tracking number. The tracking system may only provide you with the sender’s city, state, and zip code, but this may be all the information you need to determine the sender’s identity.

Tip In some areas, USPS offers Informed Delivery, a service that notifies you of incoming mail and provides you with a photo of the outside of envelopes. When you use this service, you’ll be automatically notified of a registered mail on its way, and if the envelope meets USPS standards, you’ll be able to see the return address on the correspondence.

Misconceptions about certified mail

As registered mail is often used to send sensitive correspondence, it is understandable that you may have concerns about collecting your letter. However, avoiding a piece of registered mail, especially business mail, is rarely a good idea. Here’s why:

The US Postal Service provides certified emails that senders can use to request delivery confirmation. Offered for the delivery of priority and first class mail, the service is often used by businesses or for the delivery of very important documents or items. A tracking number is assigned to the shipment, which allows the sender to track the delivery status of the package; The recipient can use the number to determine the origin of the mail.

Things You’ll Need Postal Barcode Numbers

Green return card

Step 1.

Examine the outer packaging of the mail to locate the barcode that is affixed to the top of the envelope, box, or shipping container near the return address area. Senders are required to provide a return address on all registered mail to ensure it is returned to them if mail is not delivered within 15 days of the first delivery attempt.

Step 2.

Go to the USPS website and click on the title and verify the link. Enter the numbers at the end of the barcode in the Enter Label/Receipt field and click the Go button. The online tracking system uses the numbers to determine information about the time of the shipment, the post office from which it was sent, and the location of the shipment.

Step 3.

Use the green return receipt as another way to trace the origin of the mail. The postman usually requires the recipient to sign this card for certified mail deliveries. Locate the sender’s name and sender’s address on the map to find the origin of the mail.

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

There’s nothing more embarrassing than asking a friend or loved one for their address when planning to send them a gift. You’ve already found the perfect gift, but this surprisingly ruining conversation sucks some of the fun out of the experience. Sure, you could do some guesswork and investigation to uncover their address, but you might not have to. There is an Amazon shopping feature that allows a secret gift to be sent using just the recipient’s phone number or email address.

We love this idea, especially since Amazon Prime Day makes buying gifts for colleagues, family or friends a little cheaper. Although the official Prime Day dates are July 12th and 13th, you can still take advantage of the hundreds of early bird discounts available now.

How to send gifts to people who may have moved and whose address you haven’t saved. However, note that you must be a Prime member and there are some other limitations. (Here’s how to sign up for a Prime membership if you don’t already have one.) If you’re already a member, there are plenty of benefits you probably aren’t taking advantage of, such as: B. Free delivery of Grubhub Plus groceries for a year.

Is there a catch in sending Amazon gifts without an address?

Yes, here are the puzzle pieces needed to make this convenient shopping hack work. You need to:

Be an Amazon Prime member.

Have the recipient’s email address or mobile phone number ready.

Use the mobile app to ship the gift without a specific shipping address. (The new shopping feature does not work with Amazon.com, only with the mobile app.)

Ship and receive the gift in the continental US – sorry, Hawaii and Alaska.

Important note: Not every gift in itself is eligible. For example, we couldn’t ship the baby clothes we chose for our colleague’s newborn this way, but we could select a pair to send to a recipient with no physical address.

How does the Amazon Prime gift option work?

Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

We’ll share more details in the step-by-step guide below, but in general, as a gift giver, all you have to do is send a gift receipt and select the new delivery option. The recipient will then be notified to accept the gift by providing their address. If they choose not to accept the gift, they can exchange it for an Amazon gift card. Amazon says it doesn’t tell the person who selected the gift if the recipient chooses a gift card instead.

How to send a gift on Amazon without knowing the recipient’s address

If you’ve just selected a gift for your family member or friend from Amazon, here’s how you can send it via SMS or email:

1. Add the gift to your cart using the Amazon mobile app.

2. Tap Add a gift card for easy return and then tap Proceed to Checkout.

3. At checkout, select Recipient should provide their address and tap Next.

4. Enter the recipient’s phone number or email address. Here you can also add a custom message that will be sent along with your gift. You can also select gift packaging at this point. (Note that this usually costs an additional $5 for an Amazon gift bag.)

5. Place your order by clicking Next. The recipient will then be notified and asked to accept the gift.

How to accept an Amazon gift

Amazon

If you received a gift through Amazon, follow these steps to accept it (or get a gift card instead):

1. Click the Amazon text or email notification and tap View & Accept Gift.

2. Tap on your gift to unwrap it and watch an animation revealing your gift.

3. Once you’ve virtually unwrapped your gift, you can accept it and provide an address or exchange it for an Amazon gift card.

4. If you decide to accept the gift, you will be asked to provide your shipping address. After entering your address, tap Ship to this address, then tap Accept the gift.

5. Amazon will then ship your gift to you with free Prime shipping.

Read more about whether you should buy a laptop or a new TV during Prime Day. Also, here are the best credit cards to use for Amazon’s big discount days.

Occasionally you will find that your Amazon gift card is partially or completely used up.

With all the purchases people make on Amazon, it can be difficult to keep track of who used which gift card.

You need to know the amount available on your gift card to know if you have enough to make the purchase you want on your card.

Can you see who redeemed an Amazon gift card?

No, it is not possible to see who redeemed an Amazon voucher.

To protect the privacy of its customers, Amazon does not release information about individual orders unless you were the one who placed the order.

If you don’t have the card and order information, you won’t be able to see who bought the gift card, what they bought, or when they bought the item.

Amazon considers such information private and personal to the buyer.

While it can be annoying that you can’t find out who redeemed an Amazon gift card, it’s actually for your own security.

If such information were shared, anyone could learn your address, card information, or the purchases you made.

Not protecting such sensitive information would lead to many different types of theft.

People could find out what’s in the packages waiting patiently on your porch and decide if they’re worth stealing.

Instead, Amazon organizes purchase history by each account.

To use gift cards or shop on Amazon, you must have an account.

Once a gift card has been redeemed, the amount goes to the buyer’s Amazon account.

The purchase history and the amount of money in the Amazon account can only be viewed by the person who owns the account.

Those who notice their gift cards have missing funds should first check their own account to see if the card has been registered to their own account.

This is the only situation where you will see a purchase history.

If the purchase is not visible in your account, the card was used by another account.

Try to remember if you might have misplaced the gift card because someone might have taken it.

Why is my new gift card empty?

It’s not uncommon for cards to have no balance even though they were just bought in store.

There are a number of reasons why your gift card may appear to have a lower balance than it originally had, from technical errors to spam and fraud.

One of the most common reasons a gift card goes blank before you even use it is what happens while the card is being purchased.

If you find that there is no money on your gift card, the cashier who served you probably entered some of the gift card information incorrectly.

It could be as simple as clicking on debit or credit instead of registering it as a gift card when you check out your order.

These situations are the easiest to fix.

All you have to do is take back your card and receipt and have the card checked by a customer service agent or manager.

You can check the balance on your card.

Sometimes there are technical issues that result in maps not loading upon purchase.

In these situations, you should take your card and receipt to the store and explain that the card was never topped up.

There’s no way to tell if the card didn’t load properly due to human or technological error, unless you determine that you’ve had this problem multiple times with multiple cashiers at a store.

If it is a common problem, you should report the problem to customer service or management.

It’s important that you come forward and let a store know about any issues they may be having with their gift cards.

It may be a sign that they need to have their systems checked or their software updated.

Why is my new gift card being used?

Gift card scams happen everywhere, whether online or in physical stores.

Even though security is getting tighter in many different stores, scammers have gotten smarter.

There are even some scammers working for the stores that sell you gift cards.

Before you buy a gift card, the store and you might already have been scammed.

If possible, check the back of the gift cards.

If you notice that the silver scratch stripe doesn’t completely cover the numbers, report this to the store and try to get another gift card.

In situations where you cannot see the back of the gift card, check the back of the gift card immediately after purchase.

Any damage must be reported to the shop.

Scammers collect gift card numbers and wait for them to load.

Once the gift cards are loaded, they will be used before you even get home to have a chance to use them yourself.

However, some scammers are able to obtain the codes without appearing to damage the code’s cover.

If someone else bought the gift card, you should ask them if they have the receipt or if they know the card’s activation code.

Additional information like the date they bought the gift card will help determine what happened.

You may need to call Amazon Customer Service to resolve the incident.

By giving them information like your name, shipping and billing addresses, basic gift card information, the date the card was purchased, and the activation code, Amazon can determine if the code was stolen from the store.

However, Amazon has less than gracious terms and conditions for gift cards.

Will Amazon replace stolen or fraudulent gift cards?

No, Amazon will not replace stolen or fraudulent gift cards.

In the Risk of Loss section of the Gift Card Terms and Conditions, Amazon expressly states that any gift cards that are fraudulent, stolen or otherwise lost will not be replaced.

The security of a gift card is in the hands of the merchant and the customer.

When Amazon sells its gift cards to retailers, it gives the retailers responsibility for keeping the gift cards safe, which they then distribute to customers.

Amazon claims that they are not responsible for any damage done to your gift card or even your Amazon account.

It is up to consumers to protect themselves and their information.

All Amazon can do in the event of a scam is to shut down the account that stole the gift card.

If they have solid evidence of theft, Amazon will void all payments from the gift card and investigate the account that used the card.

When you work with Amazon, you should be aware that you have the overall responsibility for keeping your package safe.

As per Amazon’s Terms of Service, Amazon is only responsible for physical items as they ship the product to you.

Your responsibility ends after the package leaves your hands.

Even if you don’t want to communicate with Amazon after being scammed by one of their cards, you should let them know if there is a scammer.

This helps Amazon take steps to find the scammer.

The sooner Amazon finds out who is taking their customers’ money, the sooner Amazon can inform the relevant authorities and prosecute the scammer.

This will prevent the scammer from making future purchases using the accounts used.

How to keep your Amazon gift cards safe

There are a few tricks you can use to keep your gift cards safer.

Whether it’s a physical card or digital information, scammers want to trick you into giving them your Amazon gift card information.

This problem has become so common that Amazon has had to comment on each type of scam and identify the most common ones.

These are things that should be shared with everyone who makes online purchases, young and old alike.

Fraudulent callers have become more creative with the stories they tell when trying to trick their victims into falling for their tricks.

They will claim to be government agencies, private departments of companies, potential employers, or even claim to be your boss.

There have even been cases where scammers claimed they were asking for money for COVID-19 relief funds or that there was a family emergency and your family member needed the gift cards to get treatment.

They will claim you have unpaid taxes or whatever it takes to quickly scare you out of your money.

You should know that there will never be legitimate transactions that force you to pay with gift cards, especially if it is a specific type of gift card.

For normal transactions, you should have multiple payment options.

Remember that Amazon gift cards can really only be used on the Amazon website.

You can’t use them in places like Target, or even your own bank’s website.

You should never pay someone with another brand’s gift card.

Anytime you share gift card information with someone, you should know exactly who you’re talking to.

You should already know their name and their relationship to you before you even think about giving them any card information.

Should I take legal action?

Yes, you should contact government organizations such as the Federal Trade Commission and your local police department.

You shouldn’t expect to get your money back, but at least you can help prevent other people from being scammed and help the scammer get caught.

The first step you should take after finding out you have been scammed is to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Even if you weren’t the one who spent the money, the Federal Trade Commission wants you to report the scam because it helps them find scammer patterns and locations.

When you create your report, you will be asked to explain what happened.

Be sure to include details of any previous steps you took to find out you were scammed, such as: B. Visiting the store where the gift card was purchased or any conversations between you and Amazon.

After you make your statement, you’ll be guided through a few steps to help you remain more confident in your particular situation.

The Federal Trade Commission then takes the information you give it and forwards it to the appropriate law enforcement partners who conduct investigations.

Once you notify the Federal Trade Commission, they recommend that you also notify your state’s Attorney General.

You can use the National Attorneys General Training & Research Institution website to make a complaint about your fraud case.

The person who lost money to the scam must file a report of the situation with the local police.

Any information regarding this matter should be provided to your local law enforcement agency, including where the gift card was purchased and that you have made reports to your district attorney and the Federal Trade Commission.

Keep your gift cards safe

Amazon gift cards can make great gifts, but you should make sure you choose gift cards that don’t appear to be damaged or tampered with in any way.

There is no way of knowing who redeemed your gift card once it has been used, and Amazon will not replace stolen or fraudulent cards.

The best thing you can do to ensure your Amazon gift cards have not been tampered with is to order digital gift cards through Amazon.

This ensures there is no physical card from which information can be stolen and limits the number of hands the card must go through.

Published by: Bounce April 16, 2021

Sometimes life can be complicated.

More and more of us are shopping online these days thanks to the greater convenience and choice of online retailers. However, the obvious disadvantage of online shopping is that you need to receive packages at a physical address.

There are many reasons why you do not want to receive packages at home. Maybe you’re shopping for gifts and don’t want the people you live with to know what you’re ordering. Perhaps nobody is at home during the day to safely receive the package. Maybe you live in a walk-in apartment that doesn’t keep deliveries for you. Or maybe you just find it more convenient to pick up your deliveries elsewhere and bring them home yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Where can I ship a package other than to my house?” this article is for you. Here are some home delivery alternatives to consider if you can’t or don’t want to receive packages at home.

package acceptance service

A parcel delivery service is a great way to get items delivered without using your home address. Did you know that Bounce works with local businesses in cities around the world to help you with this? If you’ve ever wondered, “Where can I ship a package other than to my house?” this is your answer.

Parcel handlers can accept and hold your deliveries until you are ready to collect them. This provides a way to protect your packages from thieves and weather damage, and means they’ll be ready for you to collect when it’s most convenient for you. Parcel receiving services can even sign for your packages, adding an extra level of security to your shipments.

Parcel receiving services are an excellent solution to the problem of receiving deliveries at a location other than your home address. They’re also useful if you’re wondering how to get something secretly delivered. Parcel delivery services can store your items away from your home so your surprises aren’t ruined before you can give them.

One of the great advantages of a package delivery service is that you get an actual street address to deliver packages to. This is helpful as many online retailers will not ship to PO Boxes or anything other than a real street address.

Parcel delivery services can also be helpful when shopping across borders or when you are in a different location than usual – for example, if you are on a business trip or live as a digital nomad. Many online retailers do not ship across state or national borders. Using a package delivery service may allow you to have packages delivered in a nearby state and cross the border yourself to collect them.

Is there a parcel acceptance point near me?

If a parcel acceptance service is something for you, then you have come to the right place. Bounce offers three different types of package receiving plans and has partner stores across the US – whether you want to use an alternate shipping address for a one-time online purchase or need a more regular package receiving address, there’s a plan and shipping address for you.

Locker systems for parcels

What if I don’t want a package delivered to my home? Parcel lockers are another good solution if you don’t want your parcels to come to your door. Some parcel lockers are completely contactless. You can arrange for the delivery driver to leave the package in a locker suitable for you and then collect your package once the delivery has been made.

Alternatively, you can use a parcel service that is staffed for added security. But remember if you choose this option, you need to be aware of the service’s business hours so you don’t try to collect your package after the service is closed.

Sign up for a mailbox

A post box or post office box works in a similar way to a parcel locker but more generally applies to both mail and parcels. The postman puts your mail in a box and locks it behind him. Then you can get into the box as soon as your mail has arrived. Mailboxes aren’t just for mail. Some are large enough to receive large packets.

Like a parcel locker, a PO Box is completely contactless and often has better opening hours so you can pick up your belongings at a cheaper time. However, it’s a good idea to check with your shipping company before using it. While a PO Box can be great if you need a service that takes mail and packages for you, some companies won’t deliver to a PO Box and will instead require a street address.

Have your package delivered to a friend (or your office).

“What if I don’t want a package delivered to my door,” you might say, “but I can’t find a package store near me?” Well, in that case, it might be best to see if a friend has your can receive packages for you. If you know someone who is home during the day, this can be the easiest way to receive packages. A friend will likely be more flexible as to when you can pick up your packages. And it might not cost you anything, although it might be a good idea to get your friend a little something for helping you out.

If you don’t have a friend who can help you, see if you can have your packages delivered to your place of work. This can be a very convenient solution if you are already at work and save yourself a special trip.

Of course, this depends on your workplace. Not every company allows their employees to do this. Your office may not have the space to store packages. It’s always a good idea to check with your employer first.

Also, you may not want your colleagues to know what you are buying online. In this case, it is best to use a parcel service to receive parcels without using your home address to protect your online orders.

Have you recently received an Amazon package that you didn’t order? It may be part of a scam called “Brushes”.

This scheme involves a package from Amazon showing up at your doorstep with your name on it, but it’s not something you ordered.

You can legally keep any package addressed to you, but this scam is not a totally victimless crime.

Amazon Brushing: Table of Contents

What is Amazon Brushing?

Third-party online sellers engage in “brushing” scams to boost product ratings on sites like Amazon. The seller pays a third party to purchase their products through fake buyer accounts they created.

After purchase, the item will be delivered to a real address. Then the seller can write a positive review for their own product from the fake Amazon buyer account.

Reviews are extremely important for every Amazon seller. The more reviews a particular product has and the better the reviews, the higher the product ranks in Amazon’s algorithm. That means more exposure to that product, potentially leading to more sales.

Additionally, sellers who engage in brush scams sometimes write what are known as “Verified Purchase Reviews.” Anyone with an Amazon account can write a review for any product, but verified purchase reviews rank higher in the algorithm. And Amazon only gives reviews with this label when they verify that the product was purchased at full price from the reviewer’s account.

The dangers of Amazon brushing

CNN Business reports that scams became popular in the mid-2010s. Since then, many examples of brushing have been published.

A woman in Thousand Oaks, California, received disordered Amazon packages every two weeks for more than six months. The packages contained items ranging from a briefcase to a hair straightener to a coffee mug warmer.

In Massachusetts, CBS News reported that a couple received 1-2 packages every week for five months. The unsolicited Amazon packages included a humidifier, a flashlight, Bluetooth speakers, and a computer vacuum cleaner, among other items.

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Under United States Postal Inspection law, unsolicited merchandise belongs to you. So you don’t have to return a received package and you can donate it to a good cause if you don’t like it.

But Amazon Brushing is still a threat to you and other consumers.

Your information has been compromised

Receiving disordered packages from Amazon means your information has been compromised. A third party somehow obtained your name, shipping address, and possibly your Amazon account information.

Amazon has a help page for victims of cleaning scams. We also reached out to the company’s press center and received a statement from an Amazon spokesperson via email.

It states, in part, “…we will take action against those who violate our policies, including withholding payments, suspending or revoking selling privileges, or cooperating with law enforcement.”

Amazon says it will investigate and “take action against bad actors” who violate its policies.

Fake Amazon reviews inflate product ratings

Online shoppers rely on reviews to make purchasing decisions.

“The real losers here are the consumers who may believe a lot of these fake positive reviews, or this artificial padding of reviews, because they might see 100 positive reviews, and then there might only be 60 or 70 of them that are legitimate,” he said former Amazon policy enforcement investigator Chris McCabe told CNN.

What to do if you receive something from Amazon that you didn’t order?

If you received an unsolicited Amazon package and have confirmed that no one sent you a gift, here’s what you can do to protect yourself and future potential victims:

Report the package that you did not order to Amazon Customer Service at (888) 280-4331. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission online or by calling (877) 382-4357. Change the password for your Amazon account and any other accounts that have the same password. Keep a close eye on your credit card statements to spot suspicious activity.

Never pay for an unsolicited package. If the sender calls with a bill, they’re trying to scam you again!

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Final Thoughts

With Amazon Brushing, there’s no risk of owing money on a package you didn’t order.

However, there is a potential risk that someone has at least found your name and mailing address. They don’t know what else they have or how else they might use your personal information.

Amazon Brushing is also bad for consumers overall as it falsely boosts product ratings.

Have you ever received a package that you didn’t order? Share your experiences in our Clark.com community.

Additional resources from Clark.com:

Got a gift or two you don’t like? Well, if it’s from Amazon, you’re in luck! You can return most gifts by following these simple steps. And the best? The recipient will never know!

Giving can be tricky and not every gift is a hit. Instead of shoving an unwanted Amazon gift in the back of a closet, you can simply return it. Here’s what you need to know.

The gift giver won’t know (and you’ll get a gift card)

Many people don’t realize that when you return an Amazon gift, the money goes straight to you. If you have an Amazon account, the funds will be added to your gift card balance once you return the item. Even if the purchase was completed online via the recipient’s Amazon account, the return works the same as in a brick-and-mortar store. If you return a gift to Macy’s, Macy’s Returns Department will not refund or notify the gift giver’s credit card.

So you can return the Amazon gift without worrying about the gift giver finding out. Then you can buy something you want without them getting hurt because you didn’t like the original item (unless they come over and ask if you want to see it – then you’re in trouble).

How to return your Amazon gifts

Depending on how you received the gift (and how the gift was processed in the Amazon system), there are a few small things to consider.

Amazon returns if you have a gift receipt

First, make sure your gift is accompanied by a gift receipt or order number. If you have one of these, you can start your return here. Of course, the easiest way to return an Amazon gift is with an actual gift receipt.

Amazon returns if you don’t have a gift receipt

If a friend or relative sent you something but didn’t select “Gift” when ordering or didn’t include an order number or gift receipt, don’t worry! Chances are you can still return the item without the gift giver knowing (and the money still goes to you!).

First, contact customer service and let them know you received a gift but it didn’t include an order number or gift receipt. They will ask for the gift giver’s email address (hope you have access to it!). After that it should run smoothly.

Amazon Items You Cannot Return

However, there is an exception for smooth sailing. Unfortunately, items purchased from a third-party Amazon seller must be returned by the original purchaser – which means you can’t return these items yourself (shame).

You can check if this is the case by looking for the item on Amazon or by contacting customer service.

How to send back Amazon returns

If the gift is returnable (with or without a gift receipt), you will be given options to return your unwanted gift. Most Amazon returns are now processed through UPS, although you can return certain Amazon gifts to Kohl’s if you have an order number.

Customer service will tell you your options. And you don’t even have to wrap the item – they’ll do it for you! And when you use Kohl’s return option, not only do you have the option to simply drop it off for packing and mailing, but your drop-off receipt doubles as a voucher for shopping at Kohl’s that day. And the little cabbage’s coupon bonus isn’t just some sort of “sorry you didn’t like your gift” consolation prize. Receive a coupon every time you return something from Amazon, even if you return your own purchases.

All in all, dealing with unwanted gifts (well, those that came from Amazon) just got a lot easier! Go and get the stuff you really want.

For many business owners, certified mail notifications can be unsettling, especially when you know you’ll have to wait a day or two to receive your mail. Luckily, there are ways you can use that little peachy note to pinpoint the likely sender of the letter. Even if you suspect the envelope contains bad news, knowing who sent it can help you prepare for the situation.

Certified post defined

Certified Mail is an add-on service provided by the U.S. Postal service is offered. Senders receive proof that they sent correspondence in the mail, can track an item in transit, and receive proof of delivery. For an additional fee, the sender may also require the person receiving the mail (not necessarily the addressee) to sign for the item. Swiss Post then provides the sender with proof of signature.

Registered mail serves two purposes: it provides additional security for a package or letter during transit and provides the sender with proof that something has been sent. Reasons a sender might want this type of proof include:

The sender is required to mail a contract, check, or other document by a specific date. The certified mail proves that the sender has done what is required.

The sender and recipient are involved in a legal dispute. In some states, registered mail may be used as a method of delivering documents. The certified mail also provides a paper trail that may be needed to document communications during the conflict.

The sender is trying to connect to someone who hasn’t responded to previous communication attempts. By sending a registered letter, the sender can document that they made a good faith effort to be contacted.

notification forms

If the sender of registered mail only requires proof of delivery, the postman will place the letter or package in the recipient’s mailbox after scanning the tracking code. In cases where the sender has requested signature confirmation, the postman will try to find an adult to sign for the delivery. If no one is available to sign for it, the carrier will leave a note letting the recipient know how to either collect the package from the post office or request another delivery attempt. Officially, this notice is a PS Form 3849, also known as “Notice Left.”

Tip PS Form 3849 is used to notify recipients of all types of mail that cannot be delivered. So don’t assume that every peach-colored piece of paper in your mailbox is for registered mail.

Identification of the sender

In 2018, the USPS updated its notification forms to add a field for the postman to write the sender’s name. This should be enough to identify the sender. If for some reason the sender’s name isn’t on the notification, turn it over and you’ll find the item’s tracking code. Visit USPS.com and submit the tracking number. The tracking system may only provide you with the sender’s city, state, and zip code, but this may be all the information you need to determine the sender’s identity.

Tip In some areas, USPS offers Informed Delivery, a service that notifies you of incoming mail and provides you with a photo of the outside of envelopes. When you use this service, you’ll be automatically notified of a registered mail on its way, and if the envelope meets USPS standards, you’ll be able to see the return address on the correspondence.

Misconceptions about certified mail

As registered mail is often used to send sensitive correspondence, it is understandable that you may have concerns about collecting your letter. However, avoiding a piece of registered mail, especially business mail, is rarely a good idea. Here’s why:

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