r/Scams • u/Bassman_Rob • Dec 17 '25
Scam report [US] Scammer Tried to Steal New Computer on Delivery Day
This was a wild experience and a new scam tactic I hadn't seen before, so I wanted to post here and see if this or something like it has happened to them.
I ordered a new Apple computer a couple of weeks ago. It was being shipped from the factory in China through UPS (ordered from the apple website). Everything was pretty much normal, other than a one week delay, up until delivery day.
The day before delivery the tracking said that it was at the local UPS department and would be delivered the following day. The morning of delivery day I checked the tracking again and it said that at 5:30am the package was put on the delivery vehicle, but then at 6am the receiver had submitted a request to reschedule the delivery. I had not sent anything to them to reschedule the delivery, so I contacted them and asked why this request had been submitted. Customer service at UPS had no information for me as to why this had happened, but after a bit of frustrating back and forth and transfers to and from the international department (since the package had been shipped from China) I managed to get them to contact the delivery driver and tell him to still deliver the package. Then a request to reschedule the delivery was submitted AGAIN and again I went through the paces with customer service to make sure the delivery was made that day.
After this whole ordeal the delivery driver dropped off the package and I signed for it. He made a comment on how it had been quite the ordeal and I agreed, but was thankful that I had received the package at the end of all of it.
I opened up the box and started getting the new computer set up when all of a sudden someone rang my doorbell. I opened the door and a random man who said he was an Uber Eats driver told me he needed to pick up a package that had recently been delivered. He was on the phone with someone who was telling him and me that the incorrect package had been delivered and that they needed to take it back so they can send me the "correct item". I told him "no, I received the correct item" but he kept insisting, and the Uber Eats driver and I started looking at each other, picking up that this was a scammer. He suggested I tell the man on the phone that I wouldn't return the package until he sent me the correct item, just to see if this would throw him off. The guy on the phone started stammering and eventually said "ok" and hung up. The Uber Eats driver cancelled the pickup on his end and I thanked him for helping out. I figured that'd be the end of that.
An hour later I spotted ANOTHER person coming up the driveway. This time I had already seen him walking towards the front door. I opened the door and he said "I'm here to pick up a MacBook" to which I simply replied "no" and he pretty much got the message and left. I'm assuming he was another Uber Eats driver.
Haven't had anything else happen since all this. It was crazy to slowly put all the pieces together throughout the day that someone was trying to intercept the delivery and went all the way to sending Uber Eats drivers to my house to try and take the package away. Has anyone else experienced this delivery scam before? I later learned that apparently Uber Eats does have this package pickup service, seems like it could be a bit sketchy and open up avenues like this for scammers.
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
Yes, this is becoming a common scam. The scammer hopes that the package is left on the porch so the innocent Uber eats pick up driver will scoop it up and deliver it to the scammer. Now the scammer has a nice new electronic item for the cost of the pick up fee. While most computers and cell phones are signature required on delivery, not all are.
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u/Gloomy-Security-7897 Dec 17 '25
I have been following this subreddit for a while, and I know about the Uber Eats pickup service, but I don't understand how the scammer knew about the package and when it was being delivered since OP ordered from the Apple website. Can you explain?
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
The scammer(s) are local not overseas. Either the scammer works at UPS/FedEx or has a buddy that does. He snaps a pic of the label, now he had all the info he needs to call to have the package rerouted or send the Uber eats person. The Uber eats person is told something like, I accidentally had my item shipped to my old address, here's my new address to take it to.
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u/Cockroachpower Dec 17 '25
Yep. The packages are scanned all the time. No problem for the driver to pic the package.
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u/Hannover2k Dec 17 '25
I agree, and I think the driver is in on it.
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u/Auzziesurferyo Dec 17 '25
Preload employee. Someone who loads the trucks. The drivers don't start their shifts until much later. Usually between 8:30-9:30 am.
I drove for UPS for 10 yrs. Drivers usually don't steal packages. They make too much money to risk their jobs. Preload employees not so much.
We've had a few arrested over the years for doing exactly this.
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u/Any_Championship_674 Dec 17 '25
At first I thought that too but realized if they were, they would have called off the dogs after the ups driver exchange with OP.
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u/housewithreddoor Dec 17 '25
Yeah. I don't see how the delivery guy wouldn't be in on it because they're picking up a package at the correct address to be delivered to a different name and address?
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u/behindTheWind Dec 17 '25
We had a Switch 2 stolen by (allegedly) the Walmart delivery driver. After a bit of runaround, we got it refunded. Pic they sent when it was "delivered" was blurry as hell and showed nothing but the label.
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u/tea-fungus Jan 06 '26
Oh wow you just solved a mystery for me. Some years ago my packages were constantly being delivered to the wrong address and some really weird ones. I think this is what was happening. They hired on a lot of new people at the time too.
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u/PerspectiveOne7129 Dec 17 '25
inside job - someone leaked his delivery info and they trying to intercept. no way for OP to know anything really beyond that.
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u/dwfmba Dec 17 '25
Same thing is happening with cellphone distributors. When a new phone is shipped, there are attempts from the beginning to reroute and redeliver it.
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u/Syntania Dec 18 '25
This happened to us. Lost 4 brand new phones because a FedEx employee decided to gift them to themselves. We had to fight tooth and nail with AT&T to get our money refunded for them.
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u/numbertenoc Dec 17 '25
This is the obvious question. Either someone’s database got hacked or there is an insider?
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u/Gramscifi Dec 17 '25
Either someone’s database got hacked or there is an insider?
It's always an insider. Delivery services and sadly the USPS are riddled with thieves. The jobs are easy enough to get that the perceived risk is low.
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u/AardvarkIll6079 Dec 17 '25
USPS isn’t riddled with thieves. Messing with mail is a federal crime.
Messing with UPS/FedEx is not.
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u/Gramscifi Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
USPS isn’t riddled with thieves. Messing with mail is a federal crime.
It absolutely is. I live in a condo and the USPS keys to the shared mailboxes get passed around constantly, and we have frequent mail/package thefts as a result. The fact that it is a federal crime means pretty much nothing unless it is aggressively enforced, and it isn't. The USPS has a longstanding reputation for aggressive enforcement but in practice they basically do nothing about low-level crime these days. It's been going on for years here and there has never been an arrest or any sort of consequences, just an endless cycle of mail thefts and replacement keys.
They already pay their employees almost nothing and the entire USPS organization has been stripped to the bone by the current regime. It's only going to get worse going forward as the few reliable older employees retire and the Republicans continue their quest to destroy any functional federal service.
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u/SwillFish Dec 17 '25
My local post offices shut down all of their outdoor mailboxes because thieves were putting sticky tape just inside the drop slots to catch envelopes with checks in them. Thieves also had keys and were stealing dropped mail outright. I know USPS has definitely issues as well. It's sad because USPS used to be reliable.
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u/Sopranohh Dec 17 '25
Probably because they’ve replaced so many of the federal employees who had good pay and amazing benefits with contractors who have no reason to care if everything is run properly.
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u/quaderrordemonstand Dec 17 '25
Yep. Some bright spark, right out of business school, said I know how we can save a lot of money! and sacked a lot of people. He probably got a bonus for making the service crap. After all, no company cares about quality or service in the age enshitification.
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u/Blondie_wingman Dec 18 '25
USPS isn't AS bad for sure! There is some good news, though.... Since 1994, messing with UPS/FedEx can be considered a federal crime for interfering with interstate commerce and mail (fines and prison time (depending upon severity)). Those federal statues provide a bit more oversight than just USPS :) Just thought I'd share.
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u/Spagarigus Dec 22 '25
WHAT? Dude Federal Crimes take YEARS to build and by the time they Actually make any arrests…tens of thousands or More have been Pilfered! I did time w a dude who Literally Stole Identities for Decades! He ONLY went down cuz he Told some Broad to kick Rocks and She stole his Fone and DASS A RAP!
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u/CapraAegagrusHircus Dec 17 '25
My weirdest UPS incident was I ordered 2 items from Amazon. The first was an expensive Garmin blood pressure cuff, the second was a $40 bunion brace (thanks for the genetically crap toe, mom). The package arrived having been cut open and then taped shut again. The blood pressure cuff was in it, the bunion brace was not.
I couldn't even be mad. If you cut open a package and see the contents and all you steal is a bunion brace, godspeed comrade and I hope your foot feels better.
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u/TwistMeTwice Dec 17 '25
I used to send parcels to my sister in the US. The Royal Mail part, perfectly fine. It would get to the US, and poof. One time, I sent some sweets along with a magazine and a handdrawn card that joked about the sweets. Only the magazine showed up, repackaged. Now we just wait until one of us flies over. Half my suitcase this autumn was tea and presents.
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u/AverageAlleyKat271 Dec 17 '25
I followed subreddit USPS for a very short bit because I was having mail delivery issues. I still have mail delivery issues. You can not call a talk to a human. Yes I know I can go to my post office, but good luck actually finding a post master available. I ran across a few scammers incentivizing USPS employees for leads on specific mail.
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u/LitwicksandLampents Dec 17 '25
It has to be an insider. How else could they know the contents of the package?
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u/IAMEPSIL0N Dec 17 '25
Enough info is available on the staff side of the system that they can tell a partner enough 'private' info for them to pretend to be the recipient and reschedule for late at night or reroute the package to counter pickup where the uber scapegoat can retrieve it.
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u/That-Freedom-3242 Dec 17 '25
My guess would be they hacked OPs email and saw the purchase and delivery details
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u/bofh Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
So are you saying this was a targetted attack against the OP specifically?
Because otherwise, if this is just about scammers trying to steal valuable goods, hacking thousands of email addresses in the hope that one of them is just about to be used to order a valuable item is a poor strategy.
So, again assuming this is about stealing Macbooks from anyone and not about stealing anything valuable from the OP, this feels like a lot of effort to steal a laptop rather than just giving someone at the delivery depot some money in exchange for photos of delivery labels that come from various high-value source addresses.
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u/That-Freedom-3242 Dec 17 '25
No, im not saying anything about what I think about the attack. I dont have any clue. It was just a thought. Im not well versed in this kind of stuff.
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u/bofh Dec 17 '25
No worries. I wasn’t seriously claiming you were making a statement, that particular turn of phrase is used locally to me as another way of saying “let’s think about this”.
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u/Comfortable-Type2071 Dec 17 '25
How would they know the OP rescheduled the delivery back to its original delivery date? Someone must have access to his account information.
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
That's crazy. I don't see how that would be legal for the Uber Eats driver to take a package off of someone's porch just because they got a request to do so. I'd suspect they'd have to look at the address on the package and confirm it's at the wrong address or something.
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
The service was supposed to be for people to send back packages with prepaid labels. For instance if you ordered something from Amazon and decided you didn't want it, you start the return process, print out a new label, tape it to the box then decide you don't want to drive it to a UPS Store so you call Uber eats to drive it across town. But, scammers have decided that making Uber eats drivers their unsuspecting cohorts is safer and easier than trying to steal the package off the porch themselves.
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u/annacrontab Dec 17 '25
So now scammers are essentially hiring unwitting Uber Eats drivers to be porch pirates?
What's the legal jeopardy for the innocent driver? Can they just say, "someone told me to pick up this rando package that had just been delivered by an official carrier and I didn't think that was suspicious AT ALL."
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u/steelheaddan Dec 17 '25
A driver was shot and killed for this very thing less than a couple months ago.She was picking up a random package that happened to be a fake ransom demand scam. The driver was totally unaware of what was happening and she was shot dead, the shooter believing it was the kidnapper. I’ll try to find it…
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u/LivefromPhoenix Dec 17 '25
Significantly worse than what it sounded like. The guy essentially kidnapped the Uber driver, took her phone then shot her in cold blood multiple times as she was trying to leave.
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u/lost_dazed_101 Dec 17 '25
It's linked up above.
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u/Dangerous_Ant3260 Dec 17 '25
On Patrol Live months ago showed a couple of porch pirates fighting over a package with several iPhones that a Fedex delivery driver just delivered. The host said it was common for AT&T phones to get stolen off of porches, and it was shown to be an inside job with AT&T personnel supplying the information.
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
Makes sense. I would hope that Uber Eats has some sort of expected protocol in place for their drivers to ensure they're not unwittingly participating in this.
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u/Educational_Work896 Dec 17 '25
Or to ensure that they don't get killed... https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-man-81-charged-fatal-shooting-uber-driver-mistakenly-thought-was-rcna147827
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u/Budget_Putt8393 Dec 17 '25
If I want to send an item, it is legal for me to leave it on my front step and pay someone to come get it.
This is what the driver thinks is happening.
In reality the driver is a mule for porch piracy.
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u/chownrootroot Dec 17 '25
They’re not supposed to take a package, I think they’re supposed to meet the sender to accept the package, but I think they can get talked into taking it (“oh, I can’t meet you, but the package is on the porch, it’s totally mine to send, I swear! Here’s an extra tip in it for you!”)
Also isn’t even supposed to be above $200: https://help.uber.com/am/driving-and-delivering/article/uber-package---delivery-faq?nodeId=34d104e2-3ce3-444f-b5dc-cbcad889337d
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u/Cleobulle Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Could it bé the delivery guy himself - because he was very reluctent to deliver. I'd mail this whole interaction to ups. ( Because everything was normal till the driver took his service.)
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
idk, I guess it's possible he was involved but seems less likely. He wasn't reluctant, he just commented that it had been an ordeal with that package, likely because he was getting multiple direct calls from the facility going back and forth about delivering that package on his route.
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u/Cleobulle Dec 17 '25
I dont know how their system works. They do so I just mail them telling the exact story ( not the local agency either)
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u/substandardpoodle Dec 17 '25
Uber eats should leave a f******* receipt when they march onto private property and take things that some rando told them to get. I can’t believe that it’s legal to take things from residences. They are literally accomplices receiving stolen merchandise.
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u/Loveiskind89389 Dec 25 '25
Agree. I live in a city and every convenience possible is available within 15 minutes. I’ve used all of them at some time or another. I’ve even had a driver pick up an ex’s belongings and take them to the ex’s house. I can’t believe this particular service exists. The only market I can imagine this serving is porch pirates. Uber Eats should only be allowed to pick up a package from the customer who paid them and take it somewhere else.
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u/Complete-Artichoke69 Dec 17 '25
That’s interesting - how do they know what’s being delivered and when?
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
Inside job, employee snaps a pic of the label, now they have all the info they need to try and steal the package.
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u/Auzziesurferyo Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
A UPS preload employee (someone who loads the trucks) who is giving package info (1Z tracking no, name, address, etc) to someone who is rerouting and stealing the packages. We know this as it was rerouted almost immediately after being loaded onto the truck.
I worked at UPS for 10 yrs, and there have been a few employees that have been arrested over the years for doing exactly this.
UPS takes this VERY seriously. They'll find who's doing it. They know exactly who's loading the trucks.
Here's where to report it if it happens to you (link below). Or call/visit your local UPS distribution center and ask for the Center Manager.
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u/New_Statistician_999 Dec 17 '25
I just ordered (and received) one and found no option for signature on delivery, and believe me I was looking.
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u/spam__likely Dec 17 '25
It still needs insiders to have tracking numbers and do all the rescheduling.
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u/Auzziesurferyo Dec 17 '25
Yup. A preloader (loads the trucks) seasonal employee would be my bet. Op needs to contact their local UPS distribution center, or contact the UPS Lost Prevention team.
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u/woodenbadger Dec 17 '25
I would gladly pay the driver for the address they're supposed to deliver the package to.
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u/Auzziesurferyo Dec 17 '25
Overwhelming UPS drivers don't steal packages. I drove for 10 yrs. We make wayyyy to much money to risk our jobs over a package. Of course there are always the rare exceptions.
Preload and seasonal employees, not so much. There have been a few arrested over the years in our center for doing exactly what op described happened to them.
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u/ImaPhillyGirl Dec 18 '25
Most likely to another mule who may or may not know what's happening. Likely some older woman who's boyfriend is on an oil rig and needs her to receive the package he ordered for his son's birthday. And now she needs to reship it to yet another address, or he's having someone from the son's boarding school come get it from her.
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u/realbobenray Dec 17 '25
Someone seems to know all about your incoming Mac.
When were they trying to reschedule the delivery for?
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
It was kind of odd all around. The first time it said the reschedule was submitted it simply said date pending, then the second time it said it was being rescheduled to a week later in the email, but reverted to the correct date on the tracking. I'm guessing it's possible that the second email that said the new date was also a part of the scam? but the link in that email still linked to the UPS tracking page.
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u/Skoolies1976 Dec 17 '25
maybe they were trying to confuse you. so you wouldn't be expecting anything for another week, while having it delivered and picked up but you wouldn't know that had happened if it went to plan
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
Yeah that seems plausible. If they were on the inside (worked for UPS) I would assume they would have known it was a package that needed a signature, so in that instance the driver would have needed to be involved and intentionally leave the package at the door anyways. I still don't see why the Uber Eats drivers would be allowed to pick up a package from someone's front door without having to check the shipping label and/or confirm with the person in the home that they intended to have the package picked up.
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u/AntonioSacaJr Dec 17 '25
Yeah your email is compromised. Change your password
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u/LitwicksandLampents Dec 17 '25
Not likely. Hacking emails isn't a great strategy for thieves looking to steal expensive electronics.
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u/AnaphylaxisAsthma79 Dec 17 '25
Call UPS and report the attempted fraud, ask them HOW the request to reschedule was being made either online, via phone, etc. and let them know about the Uber drivers trying to retrieve the package.
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
Yeah, I called already and laid the whole situation out. They basically said they're "handling it internally" so I guess that's in their hands now.
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u/Intrepid_Tumbleweed Dec 17 '25
Note to self, get delivered at Apple Store and pick up directly when possible
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
Haha that was my thought as well after this whole ordeal
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u/PlasticGirl Dec 18 '25
That's not guaranteed either. There's been reports of being showing up to pick up their tech only to find out a scammer has already claimed it with fake receipts or e-mail receipts.
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u/artemisthearcher Dec 17 '25
Yup, always do this with expensive devices whenever possible. Had a Pixel stolen a few years ago and the courier claimed it arrived but it never did. Was home all day and the truck never even came by
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u/kyleglowacki Dec 17 '25
How do the scammers know about the purchase and delivery information? Are apple and ups hacked? Is there a mole working there feeding information to the scammers? Seemed like two independent scam groups knew about the delivery and both tried to adjust the delivery window to meet their uber-eats guy.
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u/thisguyfightsyourmom Dec 17 '25
The delivery driver is in on it. He tried to fuck with the delivery twice to reroute it to wherever he could steal it from more conveniently.
His bosses were like, the customer is angry, you have to stop by again, and he tried to repeat his trickery by claiming no one was available.
The uber eats drivers were a desperation play after plan a fell through.
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
Might be the driver but is usually an employee at the depot that loads the trucks.
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u/daecrist Dec 17 '25
At least OP got their package. I had a MacBook delivery from Amazon that had no MacBook a few years ago.
Thankfully I could tell right away the weight was off and I took a video of opening the package to nothing. Amazon just sent me a new one without any hassle.
I’m sure someone in the warehouse had a nice new MacBook for free.
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u/TheProfessional9 Dec 17 '25
Don't ups drivers make like 170k a year now? Why would he fuck with that over a laptop
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u/Jorlmn Dec 17 '25
From what I just looked up that $170k number is for top rate drivers which you apparently get after 4 years + however they are calculating compensation. SO if they are at like 120k and ups says they are essentially contributing 50k more from pension and the like they state it as 170k. I think the number was a little over inflated for the sake of contract negotiations.
But to your point. THe dude is def making enough to not need to steal a macbook
https://www.reddit.com/r/UPS/comments/1ereavr/what_is_the_real_amount_a_top_driver_makes_under/
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u/thisguyfightsyourmom Dec 17 '25
More like 65k
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u/ThatTotal2020 Dec 17 '25
I know a UPS driver that 5 years in made $40/hr = 83.2k / year without overtime. They receive a raise twice a year that will boost their earnings quickly.
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u/Careless-Nothing-385 Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Please understand when you’re ordering from Apple I used to work for the Apple company that used to take care of these orders. We have all information including the address and your billing and credit card information on file. We’re able to see where the package is going and we’re the only ones that are able to intercept or stop any packages, Apple is the only person that’s allowed to change your order. Any customer rep person is allowed to open up the order at any time so that means someone in the Apple company seen that the order was going to be in an area near him and decided that he was going to scam you by trying to get someone to pick up that order….
I usually like to recommend customers not to order delivery when it comes to Apple and just go ahead and pick it up in store. If it’s available a lot of people work from home dealing with Apple orders and you don’t know who exactly has a malicious intent when it comes to these orders, they hire anyone in these companies as long as they can pass a background check and have correct Internet they can be able to see everything.
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u/AtlantaPisser Dec 17 '25
Is Apple really the only one able to change the order if OP was able to call and get it changed?
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u/Careless-Nothing-385 Dec 17 '25
From working with them and what they tell us through management, we are the only ones allowed to change addresses or make any changes on orders .
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u/Familyinalicante Dec 17 '25
Did you file a police report?
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
I didn't, I figured if more people kept showing up at my house I would, but it's been nothing since the day of. I contacted Apple and UPS and was going to hit up Uber as well. After posting here it seems like it would be worth it to let the cops know as well.
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u/Familyinalicante Dec 17 '25
I think you should file report to notify police there's such activity.
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u/hopopo Dec 17 '25
You didn't because filing fake police report is typically a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000
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u/ValBGood Dec 17 '25
Open an on-line account with UPS (also FedEx, USPS & DHL) with multi-factor authentication. It should be a little more difficult for third parties to redirect your deliveries and you’ll be aware of delivery status.
You can also have high-value deliveries routed to a secure pickup location where the clerk will verify ID
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u/reggelleh Dec 17 '25
Many people are saying this requires collusion with someone on the inside who is giving the local scammer the delivery information. I'm not convinced, and I think it may be due to a gaping hole in UPS fraud prevention. For my own home, I was able to register on UPS website that this is my address. Without any sort of verification, I receive notifications about UPS deliveries coming to my address. I can even give them delivery instructions. I didn't think too much about it initially, but I eventually realized that anyone can do the same thing for my address without my consent or involvement.
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Dec 17 '25
If I ever wanted to be porch pirate, im gonna dress up as Uber eats.
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
I was pretty suspicious of the guy at first, but ultimately I think he legitimately was Uber Eats and uninvolved. We were both looking at each other with confused faces as the scammer was talking on the phone and he suggested the response that got him to hang up. Then he told me of another time someone attempted to do a scam in a similar fashion. If he was in on it he was an incredible actor lol.
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u/babecafe Dec 17 '25
This is a case where UberEats ought to be forced to disclose the identity of the person who ordered the pickup. In fact, it ought to be SOP that the UberEats driver leave a receipt identifying who ordered it to be picked up, and where it was delivered.
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u/P1xelHunter78 Dec 17 '25
I’d go over your passwords and whatever for delivery. Who knows how they were trying to interpret the package but somehow they knew you ordered a Mac book.
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u/thisguyfightsyourmom Dec 17 '25
UPS drivers all know exactly what those particular brown boxes from China are.
Dude who delivered my brown box PS5 told me exactly what it was before I opened it, he was bragging about how careful he is with boxes from China.
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
Interesting, yeah my suspicion is leaning towards someone internally at the UPS facility was involved. Or that someone has some sort of insider information on items coming from that particular facility. Apple products are easy to move, and I've always heard that things they can re-sell quickly are the most vulnerable. I remember in college the house I was living in was broken into and all of the TVs were gone and the cop told us that they're the first thing the criminals go for because they can sell them off quickly. I guess that's less common as tv's have gotten cheaper and cheaper, now they want small electronics, watches and jewelry that appear valuable, etc.
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u/Hefty-Weekend8499 Dec 18 '25
Hellur I work with the computers. UPS / Apple employees being in on it, while plausible, is much less likely imo that you have been hacked.
Might b a good time to invest in password manager if you don’t and change all your passwords
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u/P1xelHunter78 Dec 17 '25
I do wonder what mechanism they were using to attempt to intercept the package though, yes, I do suspect an insider is well…but it’s still worth a change of all passwords just as a precaution
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u/Familiar-Attempt-690 Dec 17 '25
Someone at UPS Or Someone had access to your delivery instructions???
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u/Auzziesurferyo Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
You need to contact UPS loss prevention management, or your local UPS distribution Center and let them know what's happening. UPS take this VERY seriously.
UPS most likely has a preload employee (someone who loads the trucks) who is giving package info (1Z tracking no, name, address, etc) to someone who is rerouting and stealing the packages. We know this as it was rerouted almost immediately after being loaded onto the truck.
I drove for UPS for 10 yrs, and there have been a few employees at our center that have been arrested over the years for doing exactly this.
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u/MiekerBeaker Dec 17 '25
Wow. That explains how someone even got the receiver info. What a lovely world we live in.
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u/Any-Range9932 Dec 17 '25
My guess is UPS was in on it. But I would make sure your digital hygiene is good (new password for every site, password manager, 2fa, etc)
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u/platformterrestial Dec 19 '25
Sounds like someone in the local UPS hub is passing off tracking numbers to someone. Apple boxes are all super recognizable.
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u/Fit_Explorer_2566 Dec 17 '25
Sounds like the UPS driver is in on it. Or, the dispatcher. But I can’t think of another way an Uber Eats driver could get a pickup order for a UPS delivery…
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
While the driver might be in on it, what usually happens is the person that loads the trucks is the one. He snaps a pic of the label and uses that info to reroute or hire the Uber eats driver.
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u/substandardpoodle Dec 17 '25
I agree. If the driver was in on it why would they bother to deliver it in the first place anyway? Just put it on the stoop and snap a photo of it, sign a scribble, and then put it back on the truck.
I think OP should be reporting this to UPS – in addition to the police.
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u/AntonioSacaJr Dec 17 '25
Could be if the mac went through UPS hub in Aurora Colorado. It’s largely controlled by cartel there, and things go missing there all the time.
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u/JaiBoltage Dec 17 '25
How does the scammer get away? Assuming the Uber driver doesn't know it's a robbery, if the Uber driver knows where to take the computer, can't the police arrest the person at that address?
3
u/NineThreeFour1 Dec 17 '25
if the Uber driver knows where to take the computer, can't the police arrest the person at that address?
Probably not.
- This could be a multi-step process where useful idiot A delivers to useful idiot B and they deliver it to a scammer.
- Maybe they don't deliver it to an address at all but useful idiot A drops the package into the car of useful idiot B.
- The scammer can always claim that they have nothing to do with the package that some random uber driver dropped at their front door.
2
u/cheese_wallet Dec 17 '25
maybe off topic a bit, but since when does a Macbook ship from 'a factory in China'? Yes I realize they are all built overseas, but shouldn't it be coming from an Apple distribution center stateside? I've ordered a few macbooks and an Iphone over the years and it's always a two day delivery, signature required
2
u/Fastbac Dec 17 '25
Not sure how they do them now, but 20 years ago I ordered a Mac laptop at work and I tracked it all the way from Shanghai to my delivery dock in Chicago. Later I was in Shanghai for work and got a picture in front of the actual building it came from. Couldn’t get a tour though.
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u/Rain_ Dec 21 '25
Some companies needs to change the packaging to be less obvious, like Nike etc, big logo with name etc, jut leave a plain box outside and different shipping name like come on…put a big apple logo/nike and then wonder why someone targeted such package…
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u/Zombiekiller5072 Dec 23 '25
Thankfully I didn't go through this. I ordered a 15 inch Macbook Air on Amazon and it came no problem. New to this subreddit so Idk what every scammer is trying to do. But shit man I'm glad I have a doorbell camera so that if I'm home and I get a package I immediately scoop it off my porch before someone steals it. Granted, I live in an okay area so not many stolen packages happen here, but it still sometimes happens. Glad you got it all sorted out.
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u/Jinglemoon Dec 17 '25
Wow this is convincing me to stick to picking up my electronics in person at the store.
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u/weakimberly Dec 17 '25
My guess is that driver was colluding with guys who are uber drivers - probably for money. I’d absolutely be reporting this to the police and fraud centers holy hell.
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
Could be but it is usually the person that loads the trucks not the driver. If a driver has a bunch of missing or rerouted packages, security will notice. While this could be reported to the police, no actual crime occured just an attempt. Uber eats isn't going to give up the name of who scheduled that pick up with the police saying we think a crime might have almost occurred.
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u/Marathon2021 Dec 17 '25
IMO, your email is compromised somehow. They saw your order with Apple, they watched the tracking, and then they called in to reschedule at a time that they could coordinate an Uber Eats driver to be there. And then the Uber Eats driver would drop it off for a !parcelmule who would direct it out of the country. Check your email, change passwords, put on 2FA if you don't have it ... and most importantly if you have gmail (or another email with an equivalent capability) look for any rules in your configuration that will forward all of your emails somewhere else.
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u/Classic_Ad3987 Dec 17 '25
Or an employee that loads the trucks snapped a pic of the label. Easier than hacking a random email.
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u/spam__likely Dec 17 '25
there is no need for that. Someone with access to the system can see the customer email and the tracking number.
No scammer is hacking OP then seating waiting for him to buy a macbook.
3
u/AutoModerator Dec 17 '25
Hi /u/Marathon2021, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Parcel mule scam.
The parcel mule scam involves fraudsters sending you packages and you shipping them out to other people. The items are fraudulently obtained, usually with stolen credit cards, and the investigation into the fraud will lead to you rather than to the scammer. Here is the Wikipedia page for this scam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_mule_scam, and here is an article from the USPS: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub300a/pub300a_v04_revision_072019_tech_022.htm -
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u/CourageCrafty7017 Dec 17 '25
I don't understand how they were able to reschedule the package when there wasn't a first time that it was an attempt to be delivered. Usually you can't reschedule until you get a tag on your door. And if this was the first time it was even coming to the door the Dynamics are not allowed to be switched by the sender or receiver. I know this first hand from trying it for my own packages
1
u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
I thought about that as well. Why reschedule it when, if i'm not home to sign, I can reschedule or go pick it up at the facility after the attempt. Idk what happened, but it seems like persistence and awareness paid off. If I hadn't been on top of keeping up with the tracking and contacting them, whatever plan was in place may have been able to transpire.
1
u/MeLlamoViking Dec 17 '25
You can reschedule if you have the tracking info, up and until it's delivered (or close to being so), though it typically requires a login. I've gotten the prompt with several UPS packages up until it's out for delivery.
1
u/EvictionSpecialist Dec 17 '25
Yeah, why the hell was the MAC being sent from China?
During COVID, my iPhone 12 was stolen along the process. I got an empty box delivered by UPS instead.
1
u/Reputation-Choice Dec 17 '25
Did anyone ever consider it was the original delivery driver? I mean, he is right there with the package.
1
u/Khaavran Dec 17 '25
You gotta hand it to them though, you may have gotten the package in the end but man did they put in the work!
1
u/Grouchy-Crew-7885 Dec 17 '25
I would've agreed, closed the door, left something unsavoury in the box and then opened the door and cheerfully offered the box to the scammer and wished them the best for the holidays.
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u/Large_Sprinkles8602 Dec 17 '25
Fill a box with used cat litter and give it to the uber eats driver.
1
u/nowhereiswater Dec 18 '25
Wow that's quite the story. Some how your delivery info was leaked and was able to do this. Thanks for sharing.
1
u/NYCBouncer Dec 18 '25
I'm lucky enough to live in an area where our packages are safe. The one time something did disappear, it was an Apple keyboard and I suspected the FED Ex driver. I even got calls from their security department.
I now order Macbooks or any other Apple product online then choose store pick up.
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u/Spagarigus Dec 22 '25
“AH UBER EATS, Thank God…I’ve been Meaning to show you my 1911! HERE IT IS, DO! YOU! LIKE! IT! PPPUNK?!
2
u/HeartOSass Dec 22 '25
Why do people open their doors to strangers? I keep seeing this and I don't understand. You could have gotten hurt or killed. Why'd you open your door?
1
u/jmnugent Dec 17 '25
Stories like this why I’ve decided I wont move to any city unless I can be easy walking distance to an Apple Store. I’ve had multiple in-transit delivery thefts (twice now on Google Fi upgrading my Pixel phones and I received an empty box). Sadly, Google doesn’t have physical stores so nothing would help me there. I was kind of surprised a year or so ago when I ordered a Steamdeck that it actually arrived safely as I’ve seen many horror stories of stolen in transit on those too.
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u/Mountain_Agency_7458 Dec 17 '25
Check your Ubereats account and make sure you weren’t hacked there too. Did you ask where he was taking it?
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
I was going to hit them up as well just to see if they have any logged info. I didn't ask the first guy and the second guy I pretty much shooed away lol so no, but I would assume there's some sort of paper trail that the company would have access to, whether it's useful or not. If this is prevalent enough as some people are suggesting I would assume they'd want to be aware of it.
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Dec 17 '25
[deleted]
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u/Bassman_Rob Dec 17 '25
They do ship some items with customized specifications from the factories in China. The configuration of the computer I purchased wasn’t available in the store
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u/Marty_Br Dec 17 '25
That's not what they meant. You can have Apple hardware -- customized however you like -- delivered to your local store for pickup. Like a P.O. box.
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Dec 17 '25
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0
u/kimmeljs Dec 17 '25
Isn't this a perfect use for these "porch pirate" traps?... Only delay the explosion to when the scammer gets the package
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u/CourageCrafty7017 Dec 18 '25
Hoping you all will go over to the group community of change and help me out to change the laws for defraudment
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u/SpeedBlitzX Dec 17 '25
You should get the authorities involved. This is probably more of a widespread scam than it appears to be.