Ho-ho-hope your packages arrive on time: Gmail’s package tracking now includes real-time updates. On your phone, tap Menu > Settings. Look for General settings (Android) or Data privacy (Apple) and toggle on Package tracking at the bottom.
Porch pirates are getting smarter – here's how to keep your packages safe
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are less than a week away, and I’m planning to finish up the rest of my shopping list. I’m also watching my deliveries and so should you.
Porch pirates are going all out to steal your stuff this year. One thief even disguised themself as a bag of trash to swipe someone’s orders. That’s pretty funny, but what’s next sure isn’t.
Pirates are hacking tracking numbers
Thieves are hacking into AT&T and FedEx records to watch tracking updates and swoop in on your packages minutes after they arrive. Apple iPhones are their No. 1 target, because AT&T doesn’t require a signature to deliver them. (I share how to change that below.)
Plenty of thieves just wait and watch or follow drivers and strike once the truck stops. The average gift stolen this year is worth $204. That’s way more than a stocking stuffer.
Free ways to protect your packages
Request a signature: Have someone home to receive the package, especially if it’s something expensive. Amazon can email you a secure passcode you have to give to the delivery driver in person for pricey deliveries. Here’s how. A thief won’t have that code!
👉 Use these links to manage your FedEx and UPS delivery preferences and opt into tracking updates.
Get it right to the garage: With Amazon In-Garage Delivery, drivers scan your package for a one-time access code to open your garage door — no repeat access allowed. All drivers undergo a background check; see if it’s available in your area.
Send it to the office: If you can get packages sent to the front desk at work, do it. Just make sure you’re not getting anything delivered you wouldn’t want your coworkers to see. 😳
Try an Amazon Locker: It’s like a smart P.O. Box. Choose a locker, and when your package arrives, Amazon sends a one-time code to your phone to access it. There are 40,000 of them across the country, and they’re in most cities. Use this map to find one near you.
Outsmart ‘em
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
You can buy unclaimed USPS and Amazon packages - Here's how
Across the U.S., there are thousands of pieces of airline baggage that go unclaimed each year. Tap or click here for the one thing you should never put in checked luggage. Whether it was mishandled by the airline or a passenger forgot to pick it up, they can be found in almost every major city.
Protect your deliveries from sneaky theives
Your front doorstep is a landing pad for all your deliveries — and porch pirates. Here’s how to protect your packages.
“Text pesting”: That’s the name for a disturbing type of harassment an estimated one-third of young women deal with regularly. Creeps use the contact info from a professional interaction, like an Instacart delivery or rideshare, to send unwanted sexual messages. Take Millie, who got, “I can’t wait to pick you up and see your beautiful face again, I long for you” from a driver.
I saw an $82,000 Cybertruck driving down the road in Phoenix. I still say slap a gun on the back and it’s Halo in real life. More than 1 million people have ordered the EV truck-slash-tank, but how many have actually been delivered, as of May 26, 2024? Is it … A.) 3,878, B.) 42,184, C.) 122,101 or D.) 201,032?
100 yards
Distance Amazon Echo Glasses will “see” ahead to help delivery drivers work faster. The upcoming glasses will be like a heads-up display to show drivers where drop-off points, gates and dogs are located. Such a smart idea.
New steps to download your entire order history on Amazon
How many Amazon purchases have you made in the last few months? Quite a few, right? But do you know the actual number of purchases you’ve made over the previous 30 days? Probably not off the top of your head, but it’s important to keep your eyes on what you’ve ordered.
Ring's cheapest doorbell yet is here – How does it stack up?
When the doorbell rings, you can never be sure who is waiting for you on the other side. If you are not expecting a visitor, it would be great to see who’s knocking without having to go right up to the door.
Ring specializes in making doorbells that integrate with motion cameras, so you can take a peek before answering. The great thing about Ring is that the doorbell’s camera feed can be viewed on your smartphone from anywhere in the world. Not only can you keep track of deliveries, but you can also record porch pirates in the act. Tap or click for clever ways to stop porch pirates.
Cheap crap as far as the eye can see: Amazon is taking aim at cheap Chinese retailers Temu and Shein (paywall link). Its new site will sell unbranded fashion wear and household products directly from China with no reroutes through U.S. warehouses. Expect deliveries within nine to 11 days.
Virus found on surfaces after 17 days - new advice to open your packages
Of all the ways the coronavirus pandemic has upended our lives, our renewed focus on hygiene is one of the most obvious. Soaps, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are sold out everywhere, and nearly everyone is obsessively washing their hands multiple times a day.
Protecting yourself against porch thieves
Open/download audioStop holiday thieves who steal deliveries right from your front door
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices