Principles.

My DD once had a Habitat rug delivered - left on doorstep whilst she was out - no clue as to who it was for only sent to her address!!! She would never order from Habitat - she kept it for several months unopened, in the end she decided to use it. I would just keep it as it is for a while & then make a decision

Have you entered any competitions or prize draws at all? Sometimes prizes will turn up out of the blue with no correspondance whatsoever and no clue as to where they are from.

Could it be a prize from a competition that you entered? They sometimes come with no note indicating where they are from.

I'd be inclined to go along the son route. You could check with him. If not his gift, You can eliminate him from the inquiries and perhaps read Anya's experience in the 'scam' thread.

Be careful. We had a similar delivery addressed to DH ie something he didn't order. I then took a phone call to say it had been misdelivered and the delivery driver would pick it up. I said the recipient wasn't available and would be in touch. The person on the phone was very reluctant to give his number which gave me a hint that all was not well. I contacted the police who opened the package and then gave notification for the item to be returned to the shop - who knew nothing about it but accepted it. Apparently it's not uncommon though how they get their money from it I'm not sure - and quite honestly don't care! DH said he wouldn't have thought twice about returning it but fortunately my legal background - and my general suspicious nature - kicked in!

Is it something nice?

We had a parcel delivered to us a while ago, long, heavy and with no indication where it was from. When we opened it, it was a piece of metal.
We were completely baffled, neither of us remembered ordering it and had no idea what it was anyway.

Then we remembered we had asked for another radiator bracket because one was missing from the pack (a tiny, round one for a small radiator). This was a tall one for a very large radiator and a completely different shape.
We gave it to the plumber.

rubylady I have just read Anya's post on the Scam thread - well worth a read (as are the other posts).

Jamila and Ruby if it was the same scam I wrote about then the 'courier' would have been round sharpish (30-60 mins) to demand you hand it back. But just in case....don't give it back to anyone who comes to the door.

On Friday I received an email from a delivery company saying sorry we missed you, the driver left the parcel in your porch and a card through the door. I haven't got a porch and there wasn't a card through the door. I have contacted them but they insist upon a consignment number from the sender. As I don't know who was supposed to have sent it I can't do that. Stalemate! I gave them all their references as per their email, Order number and card number.Surely they can check with their driver. Will await further developments.

I have 3 large plastic trug stryle baskets in the shed. Delivered to nme in error for an order for 3 small palstic containers. The correct order was delivered but no communication re the wrong items. i have emailed but had no eply. I will be using them soon!

This sounds the same as the post on the scams. They mentioned unsolicited parcels then someone asking for parcel back claiming it shouldn't have been delivered.
Hopefully it's a gift from a forgetful thoughtful friend

The delivery scam

I still don't understand how the scammer would make money from doing that, unless the parcel is just a 'test purchase' to see if they can buy something with your card/bank details, then they can order lots of expensive stuff for themselves.
Would that be it?

Exactly what happened to me last week but mine was a Royal Mail Signed For package. I order loads of stuff through Ebay so didn't think twice about signing. No delivery note, nothing to say who'd sent it. Best of all, it's one of those wall walker remote cards - my DGSs will love this if it hasn't been claimed by Christmas!

FarNorth had I handed over the parcel the scammers would have had a brand new, top of the range, iPhone for free (or was it a brand new Galaxy? I forget) My son valued the phone at £500+

I would have been lumbered with the bill and they presumably would have sold it.

Simples!

I have just remembered a You and Yours programme (Radio 4) piece on something like this last year. It did involve items from big companies being ordered and sent to false addresses, then collected and sold on. I seem to remember it included setting up a false website to put the orders through. It may have included using stolen credit cards. The point was that the goods were being shipped off and sold elsewhere. The sums the companies were losing were huge. Clever what these thieves can do now and we all pay the price through increased insurance.

I'd be worrying I was starting to lose my marbles personally

Is it something you want?

I ordered a gift for DH a few years ago, it was kinda a joke gift and the gift card text I'ld ordered to be sent with it sort of "explained" the joke

It came without the gift card (from John lewis as it happens) and because it was marked "gift" the invoice wasn't included. It made no sense without the gift card, was just a weird item in a box, the gift card made the "gag" so I was a bit annoyed they'ld left it out, it was definitely on my order!

Must say, I have often had competition wins arrive on several occasions with no sender or why other details apart from my name and address, I tend to just assume they are competition wins (I enter loads and often have no recollection of the prizes involved due to the large number I enter) so that may be the case here?

Anya the scam link you posted was very informative. Thanks, this type of info is invaluable.

Do you enter competitions? Sometimes, the occasional prize turns up out of the blue, without compliments slip or letter.

Sounds a bit like a direct present through Amazon although they usually show some identification. Their Customer Service are very good and would probably be able to tell you if anyone has requested a direct item to you. Best of Luck.

Send it to me ruby I will give it a good home ( or not ,depending on what it is) but your conscience will be clear.

I don't think Amazon would divulge information like that, it would breach customer confidentiality. Perhaps the sender doesn't want to be known?

There is a scam whereby someone orders items using stolen cards and has the items delivered to an address they have access to - could be a friend or relative of the home owner, gardner or cleaner etc or just someone who lives nearby who will knock and claim it was meant for them. It could be a gift, or a scam, and you could cover yourself by reporting it to the police, who will probably not be interested and tell you to keep it. If unclaimed after a certain time it is yours (as with cash found). At least if you do this and the item was paid for with a stolen card you should be in the clear. Meanwhile if anyone comes to claim it you should ask for proof of identity before parting with the parcel.
I hope it turns out to be a gift for you.
It could be a hoax, like the You've been framed program, to see how you react!