Advice needed re Bizarre Mail...

[SarzWix]

In the last 3 weeks, we've had 3 letters in the post addressed to someone we've never heard of, but this exact address. The first one was a bunch of SIM cards for O2, the second a SIM card for TescoMobile and the 3rd, today, has an Orange SIM card.
When the first one came, I went to every house in the street asking if the person lived there, or if anyone knew them. When the second one came, we were very bemused, but, between us we checked the houses in the next street (which has a similar name to ours) and still drew a blank.

Now the third one has arrived, we're getting a bit worried. They're all addressed to the same name, with the exactly right address for this house. It's not that long since we had our bank account robbed by someone getting mobile top-ups, but I can't work out how this could be a scam And I don't know who to report it too, or what they could do about it? The tesco-mobile letter doesn't have any contact number in it, and neither does the O2, just "ring *** from your mobile phone", which I can't, not having one of their phones. Haven't checked the Orange one yet.

Please has anyone any idea what this might be all about, and who I should report it to?!

[scarey55]

I don't know either but I would put a call in to that bank just to be sure that nothing goes out of your account to any of these companies - assuming you don't have any existing business with them, that is.

[Glutton4...]

No advice to give sorry - but I'd definitely be VERY suspicious

OK, I do have a suspicious mind, but there are just so many scams these days...

Is it worth trying the Police?

[Flummery]

Trading standards? Just a thought. I agree about tipping off your bank too.

[zazen999]

I'd call the companies [find an 0800 number] and ask them how the SIMs were applied for etc......

[piskieinboots]

I would contact these guys - I'd also take give it to the media - and definitely put in a letter to your bank, not just a phone call

[Snadger]

I would contact these guys - I'd also take give it to the media - and definitely put in a letter to your bank, not just a phone call

For some reason I envisioned 'these guys' as being Hale and Pace!

[SarzWix]

Glad it's not just me that thinks it a bit odd... I've just googled the name on the envelope and all that comes up is a person who writes books about ferrets!

Think I'll ring the local police and see what they have to say. I wasn't sure it was important enough to bother them with, it just seems sooo pointless? If the SIMs are all coming here, what on earth can 'they' be getting from it?

At least the bank already know that we don't do mobiles other than the permanent DD for our contract, after the last hassle we had I made that very clear.

[NOG]

There is a con where...they get a mobile phone delivered to your address and pop round saying that it'd theirs and the phone company put their name on it and your address. They take the phone and you get the invovies.

You need to find out if the SIMs are PAYG or Contract. Either way get on to the Fraud section of the Company involved. There will be an address and contact number on the website.

[SarzWix]

I've just spoken to the TescoMobile people, after jumping through lots of telephone hoops and they've told me that this can't possibly cost me money in any way, unless I or someone else actually uses the SIM. That isn't going to happen, coz they're going on the fire shortly.
Technically, I'm breaking the law by 'interfering' with mail not addressed to me, but I can live with that

Just jumping through O2's telephone hoops now... Zzzzzzzzzz...

[allotmentlady]

bin them hunny and forget it or write on addressee not known at this address..

[Alice]

That's very strange Sarzwix but I can't see how anyone can scam anything out of it. I do know how frustrating trying to sort these things out can be.

Years ago, when my daughter was a student, she moved into a student flat and the outgoing bunch all put her home address (my address) down as their home address for the Poll Tax. I got Poll Tax demands for 6 people I had never heard of.
It took years to sort that out. I would write and tell them I didn't know these people and they would write and ask on what date did the person leave the address. Urgh!
Then the letters threatening Court Action started pouring in.
Phone calls ! Letters ! Urgh !
In the end I said I was making no more calls or writing letters and I would see them in Court. Result ! The demands all stopped.

[janeyo]

ditto what A-L says

[PaulG]

I think you are right in burning them, if you put them in the bin the person who requested them might still have a chance of getting hold of them.

Is it possible it was somebody who lived there a long time ago, we still get mail for somebody who left this address over 10 years ago, even after informing the companies involved that they no longer live here.

[SarzWix]

That's what I thought PaulG, they're no good to anyone melted And no, we've lived here for 10 years, and know who both of the previous occupants were (which goes back 40 years or so). The name is not familiar to me at all, or to anyone I've asked.
It's all very strange