For several months, the phenomenon of sales of lost packages by the kilo has attracted the curious, but also unscrupulous people. On the Internet, testimonials from scammed customers are multiplying.
On social networks and even in the media, sales of lost packages, also called NPAI packages for “does not live at the address indicated” or undelivered packages is increasingly trendy. The concept is simple and attractive to say the least: specialized companies buy orders by the ton unclaimed by their recipients from logistics companies, and then resell them by the kilo to individuals in physical points of sale (stores, markets) or in line. The particularity is that customers never know in advance what the packages they buy contain, they are in for a surprise when unpacking. Sometimes, this game of chance bears fruit and some obtain valuable objects (branded vacuum cleaner, games console, luxury clothing, smartphone, etc.), and for others, it is more of a disappointment… Clairvoyant As this phenomenon grows, some scammers have seen a great opportunity to make money quickly by duping consumers on the web.
The specialist magazine 60 Million consumers has recently received numerous testimonials denouncing scams involving lost parcels purchased on websites claiming to be specialists in NPAI parcels. Two platforms in particular were pinned: lostcolis.com and colisperdus.com. For our part, we also noticed that these two platforms were heavily criticized on forums. On Truspilot.com for example, which hosts consumer reviews, an Internet user declared on March 20, 2024: “This company is a great scam: no package received and request for reimbursement without follow-up”, about the site colisperdus.com.
Another unhappy customer also pointed out their refund conditions. “They ask for a photo of the double-sided identity document (scanning prohibited) + RIB + mobile number. Knowing that an image format can be modified with suitable photo software while the PDF format for scans is not. A refund request of this type allows anyone to empty your bank account and steal your identity.“ According to someIt would be even from a fictitious site, with warehouse addresses that do not exist. As for lostcolis.com, an Internet user denounced the contents of the package received, considered ridiculous given the price: “5 kg ordered for 50 euros, upon opening, I discover that no item is packaged (yet these are supposed to be lost packages?). In fact, they choose what they put inside. For For me, it was an open can of paint, a packet of detergent (that’s heavy), a thong, a pair of ski gloves and a damaged girls’ game!”
The 60 Million Consumers teams also investigated misleading online offers published on Facebook. An Internet user who confided in the magazine was tempted by one of these advertisements, ordering a lost package for the modest sum of 1.50 euros. Result: she never received her order and had the unpleasant surprise of finding that she had subscribed, without knowing it, to a “subscription with monthly direct debit of 35.40 euros”. Faced with these sites and online offers, the magazine advises you to be very careful before making any purchase. If the sites display spelling mistakes, inconsistencies in their speech, if their T&Cs are not detailed and mention an address abroad, or if the prices are too attractive, it is better to pass on and not not order.