Mysterious package brings possible scammers to Port Richey home
PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) - Pasco County deputies say they may have uncovered a bizarre scam that crosses state lines.
The crime has investigators puzzled and a family on edge.
Every day, detective Darren Hill says he deals with scams, schemes, fraud, and forgery but he says he’s never encountered a situation quite like this one.
“We get a lot of very interesting and creative scams,” he said. “Definitely this case is showing some unique patterns already.”
On Wednesday, a package showed up at a Port Richey house. It was correctly addressed, but only the last name matched the homeowner's.
Not long after it was delivered, investigators say two men came looking for the mail.
“The people that live there say that they don’t know the people and they just randomly showed up,” said Hill. “They just found it really strange when another package occurred the next day, identically.”
A second envelope with the same wrong name showed up at the house Thursday. Officials say, this time, the same duo came to retrieve the delivery, but were more aggressive.
“The individuals actually followed them into the home,” Hill said. “They actually opened the front door and went into the home.”
The people who live in the house were too scared to talk on-camera, but tell FOX 13 News as soon as they mentioned law enforcement, the intruder ran out.
The sheriff’s office responded and, inside the package, they discovered about $8,000 in cash.
Investigators checked out the return address listed on the deliveries. Investigators say an elderly woman in Alabama was the one who mailed the money.
“It looks like she might have been part of some sort of mail scam. We’re not too certain yet because she has not spoken too much on the matter,” said Hill.
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the bizarre ordeal.
The people who live where the envelopes were delivered are concerned.
Investigators say if mail shows up at your door and anything about it seems strange, you should call law enforcement.