Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

victim of fraud

I am apparently the victim of fraud. Someone got hold of my address and started to send packages here -- to later be picked up and sent elsewhere. I found out who was using my address and he's in Nigeria, apparently a hot spot for fraud. Anyway, I had received a bunch of books which this person ordered, had sent to my house, then had picked up from my house! The books, in boxes were at my house for a couple days but I didn't order them. My credit card wasn't used, thank goodness. But, I just got an invoice for these books...that I didn't order. Can I be held liable? Note, I have proof that fedex picked them up, and I filed a police report, and had an alert put on my credit. The books were not ordered under my name, just my address was used unlawfully. Again, can the book company collect from me?

Thank you.

Ellen


Asked on 9/24/05, 2:29 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: victim of fraud

What do you mean "They were picked up at my home." Why were they picked up? Did you call someone to return them, or were they shipped elsewhere? If you shipped them elsewhere, it seems that you might have been complicit in this deception.

This is a scam that has existed for a while. Foreigners use stolen credit card numbers, order products, and have them re-shipped so that they can't be traced. Report the entire matter to your local law enforcement authority, just for your protection. If you did not participate in any way, you should not be held liable.

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Answered on 9/24/05, 4:44 am


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