Something strange just occurred, and I'm trying to make sense of it. I received a FedEx notice to pick up a package at a Walgreens location. When I went there with my ID, I found a box containing expensive music equipment valued at around $1,500. The unusual part is that I never placed this order. Interestingly, my Amex was charged the same amount two days earlier.

To make it even stranger, I also received a call from someone claiming to be a customer service rep from the actual merchant (a legit, reputable company) checking on the delivery. So whoever's behind this clearly has my name, phone number, address, and credit card info. The company is based in a city we briefly passed through last month on a trip, but otherwise has no connection to us.

I called the merchant's official number from their website, and the representative immediately said, "That's fraud, call your credit card company," without asking for any details or verification. He also told me I could keep the equipment. The box looks sealed and genuine, but there's no receipt or order slip inside.

I've already filed a fraud report with Amex and frozen my card. But a few things are bugging me:

1. The representative was extremely brief with me and didn't ask for any of my information.

2. His telling me to keep $1,500 worth of gear without asking seems wrong.

3. Could this be some kind of brushing scam? But then again, why ask for ID verification and a signature if that was the goal?

Am I overlooking anything? Is there anything else I should do?

That definitely sounds like outright credit card fraud, not a brushing scam. Brushing scams typically involve sending inexpensive, low-quality items without charging anything, and allowing sellers to post “verified” reviews. The fact that your card was billed the exact amount indicates that someone obtained your information and attempted to make a legitimate-looking purchase. The short response from the rep doesn’t surprise me. Big retailers deal with this all the time, and they probably don’t want the hassle of tracking it down. You did the right thing by freezing your card. I’d also keep an eye on your credit report and bank accounts just in case.

Honestly, I think the reason they told you to keep the equipment is that it's more expensive for them to handle a return on a fraudulent order than to write it off as a loss. Once the chargeback occurs, they won't see that money anyway. I guess that the scammer was hoping to intercept the package before you picked it up. Perhaps with a fake ID, which explains the Walgreens delivery point. Good catch on your end.

If it were me, I wouldn’t open or use that equipment until everything is 100% cleared with Amex and the merchant. Even though the representative said to keep it, companies sometimes change their tune later, and you don’t want them coming back to say it needs to be returned. Document everything, including pictures of the box and its labels, and keep records of your calls. Also, check your credit reports and set up alerts if you haven’t already done so. If the scammer had enough info to pull this off, they might try other angles too.

Quick update on this whole situation.

Amex confirmed the charge was fraudulent and quickly reversed it. They overnighted me a new card, so that part’s taken care of. I also went ahead and froze my credit with the bureaus just to be safe. No unusual activity so far.

Regarding the gear, the box still sits unopened in the corner. I documented everything, as some of you recommended, including photos of the shipping label, the tracking number, and notes from my calls with the merchant. Their stance hasn’t changed: they don’t want it returned and told me to keep it. It feels strange to have $1,500 worth of equipment I never asked for, but I’m not touching it until enough time has passed to ensure they won’t come back for it.

Thanks for the advice here. Honestly, this whole situation makes me wonder how the scammer planned to execute it. I think they were counting on intercepting the package before I picked it up. Either way, lesson learned. Keep a close eye on your statements.

Yeah, sounds like the scammer lost out once you picked it up yourself. They probably had a plan to grab it before you did.

You actually got lucky here. It could’ve been a nightmare if you didn’t catch the charge in time.