South Whitehall Township police are advising residents about a recent scam.

A package from Best Buy was purchased with a couple’s credit card and delivered using their information.

The resident contacted Best Buy about the purchase and obtained a return label from them directly and returned the item using UPS.

The resident also closed the credit card which was used to make the purchase.

The next day a FedEx truck arrived with a return label, which was addressed to an individual in New York with the words Best Buy on the label.

As the resident already returned the item, the scam did not work.

The scam works in this way: Compromised information will be used to make a purchase from a retail business and the purchase will be sent to that person’s residence.

As the person is correcting the issue, he or she will return the purchase with the label.

The package will then be sent to a third party who usually has no part in the scam. These people are hired as “work from home” contractors who reship packages to another location.

Police recommendations to residents include:

·Monitoring credit card statements frequently;

·Most credit card companies offer monitoring alerts from purchases over a certain value. Alerts come as text messages or emails. Use this feature;

·If a package you did not order arrives at your home, don’t return it without contacting the retail business and your credit card company;

·Obtain a return label directly from the retail business. Try to verify all addresses before returning the package; and

·Contact local police to make a report.