November 12, 2019

Warning: ‘Porch Pirates’ and ‘Mock Mailers’ Active During the Holidays

The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection is warning residents about two scams that increase in volume during the holiday season. One involves “porch pirates” targeting deliveries for theft. The other comes through the Postal Service in the form of “mock mail” that gets holiday-distracted residents concerned about their vehicles or the status of their mortgages.

“Porch pirates really are shoplifters who are moving their thefts from the store to your door,” said Eric Friedman, the County’s Director of the Office of Consumer Protection. “They may be stealing items that you ordered—or they may be stealing items that they ordered in your name by stealing your identity and having items mailed to your home. These criminals sometimes follow UPS, FedEx, and Amazon trucks and scoop up packages as they are dropped off. But people can take action to help avoid being victims.”

Another issue at this time of year comes with the increased volume of mail and the feeling that certain things must be addressed before the end of the year. Mock mailers are ready to take advantage of those conditions.

Learn more about how to avoid these scams at the press release.