Package redirection scam

Some scammers may put the return label on an advertisement and remove all shipping information except for the barcode.

This serves the same purpose as a package redirection scam; the company believes they mismanaged the return and refunds the scammer's money.

[5] There is also a similar scam where a low value item is ordered on a site such as AliExpress, and shipped to a different address in the seller's ZIP code in place of a return.

Methods used to accomplish this can range from disappearing ink, thin paper, corrosive substances used to destroy the box after shipping, or even package bombs.

While the merchant may know the package was never delivered, the return tracking may allow the fraudster to win a chargeback claim.

In the case of marketplaces such as eBay, the site is programmed to automatically refund the money within 2 days of return package delivery.

[11] The person who received the fraudulent return may also choose to retain the package and hand it to the authorities.

[12] However, some scammers may place garbage in the package to match the weight of the item, complicating the process.