Woman Receives 3 Free Power Banks She Never Ordered, Warn Of New Scam Tactic

A woman in China was left alarmed after receiving three power banks she never ordered, with authorities warning that unsolicited electronic devices could potentially be used as part of sophisticated scam operations.

The incident has sparked discussions online after reports emerged that scammers may be using unexpected deliveries to gain access to victims’ personal information and financial accounts.

According to reports, a woman surnamed Li received three separate parcels within a single day. Although each package had a different tracking number and collection code, all contained the same model of power bank.

What made the situation even stranger was that the parcels were addressed to Li by name and included her correct home address and contact number.

Initially believing that a family member may have purchased the items, Li checked with her relatives only to discover that nobody in the household had ordered the power banks.

Concerned by the unexpected deliveries, she reported the matter to the police and handed over all three devices for investigation.

Hidden Risks Behind Unsolicited Deliveries

Authorities warned that scammers are increasingly adopting new methods to target unsuspecting victims.

Unlike traditional scams that directly ask for money, these schemes may begin with what appears to be a harmless gift.

Reports circulating online claim that some modified power banks can contain miniature chips hidden inside the device. These chips may be designed to install malware or create unauthorised access points when connected to smartphones or computers.

Cybersecurity experts have long cautioned against connecting unknown USB devices to personal electronics, as malicious hardware can potentially be used to compromise sensitive information.

Personal data such as contacts, photographs, passwords, banking credentials and authentication codes could become targets if a device has been tampered with.

The use of unsolicited parcels also exploits human curiosity, as many recipients may be tempted to test or use a free item that appears brand new.

Victims May Not Realise They’ve Been Targeted

One of the biggest concerns surrounding such scams is that victims may not immediately realise anything is wrong.

Because the parcel arrives through legitimate courier services and often contains a genuine-looking product, recipients may lower their guard.

Scammers can also use the package to encourage victims to scan QR codes, visit fraudulent websites, register accounts or download suspicious applications.

In some cases, the physical device itself may not be the primary threat. Instead, criminals may rely on social engineering tactics to trick victims into voluntarily providing personal information.

Security experts advise consumers to be cautious whenever they receive unexpected packages, especially electronic devices that were never purchased.

What To Do If You Receive A Mystery Parcel

Members of the public are advised to verify whether the item was ordered by a family member before opening any unexpected package.

If the sender cannot be identified, authorities recommend avoiding the use of the device altogether.

Consumers should never connect unknown electronic devices to smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers.

Those who have already used a suspicious device should immediately disconnect it, review their accounts for unusual activity and change important passwords, particularly those linked to banking and payment applications.

Any suspicious deliveries should be reported to the relevant authorities for further investigation.

As scammers continue to evolve their methods, experts say that exercising caution with unexpected gifts may be the best defence against becoming the next victim.