There are air couriers for parcels: why you shouldn't accept packages from strangers at the airport
A common situation: a confused stranger approaches a traveler at the airport. The man asks to deliver a package at the destination, offering to take it with him on the plane. This situation is especially common in Dubai airport terminals. In 2020, a passenger was detained with well-packed phones, which he was asked to deliver to relatives in Russia. He was ultimately sentenced to death.
An attentive traveler will immediately wonder: what's stopping the person asking from taking their box to the courier company? What's inside the package? What will happen if they agree and take it?
Typically, strangers explain that sending a package this way is much faster. But the speed of mail delivery is quite satisfactory: in a pinch, you can order an express parcel.
From the moment they accept the package, the traveler becomes its owner. If the contents are dangerous, they will be held responsible. What should they do? A good person in a difficult situation might feel awkward refusing a trivial request – but airports and train stations are full of scammers.
To avoid falling victim to a scammer or criminal, pay attention to several signs.
Appearance
A traveler should be wary of both obviously poor attire and a perfectly expensive suit. A poorly dressed person could be hired by criminals. A requester dressed in clearly designer clothes, given their wealth, could easily hire an air courier.
Emotional state
A nervous, overexcited, or trembling requester is a clear sign of danger. Someone who's genuinely bringing fruit for Mom won't be worried. Perhaps bandits are forcing this person to deliver prohibited packages to unsuspecting citizens.
Excessive Politeness and Persistence
Long-winded persuasion is a suspicious sign. If the person has nothing to hide, they'll simply abandon the traveler and try asking someone else. Persuasive requests, assurances, and promises of complete safety are a bad sign. A reasonable person understands the word "no" the first time.
Order not to open or look
Is the person asking begging or strictly ordering you not to look inside the box? The contents are clearly prohibited for transport. Agreeing can lead to huge problems: the requester will disappear, and the kind traveler won't even make it to the plane before the police arrive.
Request to leave a box at an agreed-upon location
If the requester cannot guarantee that the recipient will meet the traveler, this is a warning sign. A request to hide the package in a secret place or leave it at an agreed-upon location indicates illegal intentions.
Safe transportation
If a traveler is inclined to accept a package, there are several things they should do.
- Get phone numbers and other information. When requesting a package to be transported, they are required to provide the carrier with the recipient's phone number and contact information. Otherwise, to whom and how should I give it?
- Find out what's in the box. Ask a direct question, try to see the contents with your own eyes, or at least shake the box lightly.
- Read the documents. For valuable cargo. It's important to remember: jewelry and other expensive items should not be taken. Fraudsters can easily extort money, claiming the package contained real gold that the traveler replaced. This will inevitably lead to problems at customs.
What do they do with a package delivered by a travel companion?
The screenshots below from Yandex.Metrica show the keywords that led the visitor to our website. They say a lot - these screenshots can help you understand your attitude toward gifts from strangers:
