Have you recently received a mystery package and wondered how to find out where an Amazon package came from? You’re not alone. Every day, people open surprise deliveries without knowing who sent them or why. This guide explains exactly how to trace the origin of an Amazon package, identify the sender, and stay safe from brushing scams or fraudulent activity.
How to Find Out Where an Amazon Package Came From (Step-by-Step Guide)
Many people want to find out who has sent a package when it turns up anonymously, if only so they can thank the sender. However, this is often not easy, and you will frequently have no avenue that tells you who sent it.
That leaves you with only one option: asking your friends and family whether they purchased the item for you, and thanking whoever says they did. This can be awkward, however, so let’s look at the steps you can take before this that may help you to determine who sent an Amazon package.
Method One: Check The Return Address
The first thing to do is to check whether the package has a return address. This may be the sender’s address, but it might also be Amazon’s address or the address of a drop-shipper, so this may not tell you anything.
However, if you recognize the address, you may be able to identify the sender from this. If not, move on to the next method.
Method Two: Check The Packing Slip
If someone has bought you a gift, they have the option to fill out their information on the packing slip so that you know who they are. The packing slip is usually tucked inside the package, and will contain things like the name and address of the sender if they have filled this in.
However, Amazon will not require the sender to fill this in; it is perfectly possible for them to purchase a gift for you anonymously, so this may not give you any information.
The packing slip should also tell you whether the item was fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) or by a third party seller. If it was a third party seller, you would probably need to contact that seller, which isn’t easy to do. If it was Amazon, try speaking to their customer service team (see Method Four below).
Method Three: Enter The Tracking Information Online
You might think that the tracking information is of no use to you once the package is in your hands. Tracking information is designed to tell you where the package has reached in its journey, so how can this help if you are already holding the package?
The tracking information will sometimes contain information about where your package has been throughout its journey. For example, it will often show what city/state and country it is in at each sorting hub it reaches.
This could give you some clues about who has sent the package, although there is no guarantee. For example, if you see that the item came from Amazon UK, it was likely purchased for you by a friend or relative in the UK.
This will not always give you enough information to identify the buyer, but it is worth looking at, because it may offer some hints. In many cases, however, it will simply have been shipped from an Amazon warehouse, and this may not relate to your buyer’s address at all.
If your tracking ID begins with “TBA”, it’s shipped by Amazon Logistics. You can track these shipments only on Amazon’s own tracking page — track.amazon.com — or from Your Orders in your account. Third-party tracking websites cannot display TBA shipment updates.
Method Four: Contact Amazon Customer Services
If none of the other methods have given you any information, try contacting Amazon’s customer service team. However, before you start, it is important to be aware that Amazon protects its customer information with care, and you may not be given a name.
Amazon is very cautious about handing out personal information, and just receiving a package does not entitle you to know who sent it. This would be considered sensitive data, because it provides information about the person’s buying trends, and if the buyer has chosen to remain anonymous, they may not appreciate this.
However, it is worth trying. You may wish to explain the situation to Amazon, or you can tell them that you are concerned about being involved in fraud (especially if the item doesn’t seem like something your friends would choose for you).
In some cases, Amazon may then confirm the first name of the person who made the order. However, there is no guarantee that the company will do this, and in many cases, they will refuse. If this happens, there is likely nothing else that you can do to trace who sent an Amazon package, besides talking to friends and family. You cannot force Amazon to give you this information.
Should I Ever Be Concerned About An Anonymous Package?
Most people are excited when they receive something that they were not expecting, but if you have just got a package that was unexpected and has no apparent connection to you, with no note about who sent it, you may be a little worried.
In most cases, this will be because a package has been misdelivered, but if the name and address match yours, this is less likely. In general, you don’t need to worry about this, but in some cases, anonymous deliveries of random products are attempts at fraud, so this should raise red flags for you.
How Do Anonymous Packages Link To Fraud?
Sending out anonymous packages is sometimes called “brushing,” and it is an attempt by sellers to raise their ratings on Amazon. Essentially, they get a third party to purchase their item and send it to a real address.
The product gets delivered to the address, and the third party, who bought it, can then leave a review of the product. They can even leave a “verified purchase review,” which will push their review up in Amazon’s review algorithm, artificially inflating the reviews of the product.
You can read more about brushing on Amazon’s official page: Report Unwanted Packages (Brushing Scams).
⚠️ Important: Some brushing scams now include fake delivery texts or QR codes to “confirm receipt.” Do not scan or click any links related to surprise packages — report them to Amazon or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Should I Be Concerned If I Am Being Targeted For “Brushing”?
It might seem like this is a victimless crime; the recipient gets items that they can keep, sell, or donate, and the seller gets improved ratings. However, this is not good for consumers as a whole, who need to be able to trust product reviews, and it also means that your information has been compromised.
You are legally allowed to keep unsolicited packages under U.S. Postal Service regulations, but Amazon encourages reporting the incident through their brushing form. It’s also smart to monitor your payment methods, update your Amazon password, and report any suspicious activity to both Amazon and the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
Can You Deliberately Send Anonymous Packages On Amazon?
Yes, senders can dispatch a package anonymously by requesting that a packaging slip is not included within the package. This does cause confusion for the recipient, and Amazon claims to get many calls regarding anonymous packages around the holidays.
Some people worry they have been incorrectly charged for the item, while others are concerned about fraud. Often, the answer is simply that someone purchased the item for them, and there is nothing to worry about.
It might seem like a nice idea to send a package anonymously and surprise someone around the holidays, but this can cause stress to the recipient, and it’s generally better to leave your information visible if you are purchasing something for a friend.
Although anonymous gifts may seem innocent, the potential for fraud and confusion surrounding them is high, and you may unwittingly upset the person you are sending the gift to. To avoid this, leave the invoice visible.
It should also be noted that although you can request anonymity by having the packing slip removed, the seller/Amazon will not always comply, and there is no guarantee that the item will arrive without any identifying information.
You shouldn’t try to use this anonymity to send gag gifts or hurtful gifts, because you may find that you aren’t as anonymous as you expected to be.
Can You Keep A Gift Secret On A Shared Amazon Account?
If you are buying something for the person you share the account with, you can keep the gift a secret in a few different ways. One option is to set up Households, which gives individual profiles to household members so that everyone can select their own profile and shop and receive notifications privately.
Amazon has been phasing out the “Archive Orders” feature in 2025. Instead, use Amazon Family/Household, which allows each adult to have a private order history under one Prime account. This ensures that gifts and surprises remain hidden without needing to archive them manually.
Should I Be Worried If I Can’t Tell Where An Amazon Package Came from?
In general, an anonymous package will be from a friend or relative who forgot to include their information or thought it would be fun to stay anonymous. If the item is something that seems “you,” this is very likely to be the case.
You should only be worried if you receive random anonymous orders at all times of the year, unrelated to birthdays/Christmas, and none of your social circle claims responsibility. If the items aren’t on a wish list and seem totally unrelated to your preferences, this could be cause for concern.
Always keep a simple six-step checklist:
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Check for a gift note or digital receipt.
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Use track.amazon.com for TBA packages.
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Report unsolicited packages via Amazon’s brushing form.
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Don’t click links in surprise delivery texts or QR codes.
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Use Family/Household for gift privacy.
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Contact Amazon support or local authorities if you feel unsafe.
Conclusion
Receiving an Amazon package is often a great, exciting moment, but only if you are at home when it arrives. If you realize a package is coming and you are going to be out, it often turns into a source of stress and frustration, especially if it needs a signature or it’s too big for your mailbox.
If this happens to you, you may find that a Virtual Mailbox from US Global Mail is the answer. This provides you with a secure address where packages can be delivered at any time, ensuring that you can get mail whether you are home or not.
The package will remain in secure storage until it suits you to collect it, and you can even view previews of it on the app. This is also a great way to avoid your significant other spotting or signing for a package that is intended to be a surprise!
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