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Porch pirates are swiping Amazon packages left and right, and you might be the next victim. Take these steps if your Amazon package is stolen or lost.Amazon has made shopping easier than ever, but a missing or stolen Amazon package can cause a real headache. And as online shopping surges, so does your likelihood of becoming a victim of package theft. Nearly one in five Americans reported stolen packages last year, according to a Value Penguin survey. “As could be expected with more people shopping online during the pandemic, the number of victims of porch pirates has increased significantly during this time,” says Steve Weisman, a professor of white-collar crime at Bentley University and the author of The Truth About Avoiding Scams. If you’re looking for a missing package or believe your Amazon package was stolen, here’s everything you need to know about tracking it down, filing a claim, and hopefully getting your money back. FYI, frequent online shoppers should also know what to do if a package arrives damaged, how to get a refund on anything, what a brushing scam is, and what happens to undelivered mail with no return address. How to track down a missing Amazon package that’s listed as “delivered”Under “Your Orders” on Amazon, you can find additional information to help you track down a stolen or missing package that appears on your account as delivered, according to Weisman. He recommends taking the following steps:
If you still can’t locate it, it’s time to report the missing package to Amazon. Skip down to the section titled “How to report a missing package from a third-party seller on Amazon” for step-by-step directions. How to find missing packages that aren’t trackableAmazon packages without tracking information are rare, but they do exist. Here are some actions you can take if your Amazon package is missing and doesn’t have a tracking number.
In case you were wondering, this is what happens to lost mail. How to report a missing package from a third-party seller on Amazonrd.comIf your Amazon package still hasn’t arrived after 48 hours, you should file a claim with Amazon for a refund. But first, you need to contact the third-party seller directly to report the issue, Weisman says. Amazon requires customers to contact the seller before submitting a claim online. Here’s how to report missing packages from a third-party seller:
If the package in question contained a present, you might also want to check out this list of last-minute gifts that will arrive in time for the big day while you sort out this situation. How to submit a missing package claim to Amazonrd.comLuckily, with Amazon’s A-to-Z Guarantee, your purchase is protected if an Amazon package is stolen or lost. Just make sure to file the claim within 90 days of the purchase date or it won’t be accepted. The following instructions are for use on a desktop computer; they may be slightly different if you use the Amazon app on your phone.
Additional steps to takeAmazon is not the only place to file an “Amazon package stolen” claim. If you have exhausted all the above remedies, then the next step might be to contact the police, the shipping company, and your credit card company, according to Robert Siciliano, a cybersecurity instructor at ProtectNow. Many credit card companies offer purchase-protection features that cover the cost of lost or stolen deliveries, which is why online purchases are among the things you should always pay for with a credit card, Weisman says. How to protect your Amazon deliveries in the futureTo protect your packages from porch pirates, Weisman suggests taking precautions, such as requiring a signature for delivery or sending the package to your work address. Amazon provides a number of delivery service options, as well, Siciliano says. You can choose to send packages to Amazon lockers at nearby stores like Whole Foods, or you can install Amazon’s Key Smart Lock system for a more secure way to receive deliveries at home. With the system, delivery drivers can scan a barcode to request access to your front door or garage and place the package inside while a security camera monitors them. All you need is an Amazon Prime account, the Key by Amazon app, a smart lock, and a Wi-Fi-enabled camera. Now that you know what to do if your Amazon package is stolen, get up to speed on more little-known Amazon hacks every shopper should be aware of. Also, read up on how to spot an Amazon email scam—it could come in handy in the future. Sources:
Is Amazon reliable for stolen packages?Amazon covers most stolen packages through its "A-to-Z" Guarantee Protection. Sometimes, purchases that are "fulfilled by Amazon" are actually sourced from retail partners known as "Amazon Sellers." (You should know if that's the case at the time you order the item.)
What percentage of packages get stolen?Nearly 1 in 5 Americans were victims of porch piracy. 18% had a package stolen since the outbreak. 43% had reported a package theft in the past. 54% of respondents had multiple deliveries stolen in the prior 12 months.
How common are package thieves?Incidence of theft
An average family receives 27 packages a year, each year about 19% of the families have had a package stolen. That implies about probability of a package being stolen to be about 0.2 percent or higher. Most thefts occur when no one is at home. Thefts are more common during the holiday season.
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