Dial-a-scam: Raleigh man gets iPhone he didn't order in the mail
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- When an unexpected package arrives in your mailbox, you don't expect it to be an iPhone.
It happened to Bill Jarrett and he was baffled.
"Much to my surprise, under the bubble wrap was a brand spanking new iPhone. I was flabbergasted," Bill said.
Bill said he never ordered the phone so he had no clue why it was sent to him. The only thing included with the new iPhone was a letter from the cell phone carrier explaining its customer satisfaction policy along with the terms of the agreement.
"How did they get my mailing address?" Bill wondered. "I think someone is pulling a scam."
Confused as to why he was sent a brand new iPhone and then signed up for service, he reached out to me. I then reached out to the cell phone provider, and they were able to confirm that someone did activate the service and order the phone online. Since Bill says he didn't do it, the provider did send him a return kit and once the phone was sent back, the provider was able to cancel all of the charges associated with the service and equipment.
The cell carrier is now investigating who could have set up this account online.
Bill says an investigator with the company told him someone was trying to use Bill's identity to establish the service.
Where this could have taken a bad turn is if whoever set up and ordered the phone intercepted it from Bill's mailbox before he was able to get it. Then that person could do real damage to Bill's credit.
It's always a good idea to check your credit report at least once a year to see whether anyone is trying to use your identity to establish credit. You can do that for free here.
As for Bill, he's glad he took quick action.
"I hope this is a cautionary tale to others; if they are targets of this to beware," Bill said.
