close Holiday shopping fraud expected to increase due to AI The busy holiday shopping season is just around the corner and most of us will be targeted by an AI scam. As the holiday season approaches, the excitement of gift-giving can quickly turn into anxiety over package theft. With porch pirates on the prowl, your carefully delivered gifts can vanish right from your doorstep. In 2023 alone, a staggering119 million packages were reported stolen, meaning one in every 180 deliveries disappeared into thin air.Cities like Seattle, Memphis and San Diego have become hot spots for these unfortunate heists.If youve ever found yourself racing home to rescue a package, asking neighbors to keep an eye out or, worst of all, falling victim to these sneaky thieves, youre not alone. But dont worry! Weve got some tips that could save you from the holiday headache of package theft. Lets dive in. Alleged porch pirate taking packages from property (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 1: Get security camerasFirst things first, consider installing security cameras around your home. Having a good camera system can really make a difference when it comes to deterring those sneaky thieves. Depending upon how well your police department responds to porch pirate package theft, position yourvideo doorbell to capture the face of the pirate and your package deliveries. A Video Doorbell can push notifications to get a phone alert whenever anyone or anything approaches your door, even if they don't ring the doorbell.Also, you might want to consider adding a couple of nearly invisiblewireless cameras on tree limbs near the street at your house. We did it in hopes of being able to record a license plate if ever needed for police. I can set them to send a notification when the camera detects a person or car.When youre shopping for cameras, look for high-resolution video so you can see everything clearly, even at night, with night vision capabilities. Motion detection is a must. Itll alert you if someone gets too close to your front door. Plus, two-way audio lets you talk to anyone at your door, whether its a delivery person or someone who shouldnt be there. And dont forget about cloud storage. This way, you can easily access footage whenever you need it. Check out my top picks for thesix best outdoor security cameras.Pro tip: If your camera has the feature, set your video camera to notify you when it identifies packages within view.GET MORE OF MY TOP PICKS TO AMP UP YOUR HOME SECURITY Image of a doorbell camera (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 2: Use tracking appsNext up, make sure you're using tracking apps for your deliveries. Most shipping companies offer tracking services that let you follow your package from the moment it leaves the warehouse until it arrives at your home.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?If you sign up forUSPS Informed Delivery, youll get digital previews of whats coming to your mailbox, which is super handy. You can set up email or text alerts for delivery updates so youre always in the loop about when your packages are arriving. Some retailers even send you photos once your package has been delivered, giving you extra reassurance that it made it safely. A woman using a tracking app on her iPhone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 3: Make sure someone is homeNow, lets talk about timing. Its important to have someone around to receive packages as soon as they arrive. This can be tricky since many deliveries happen during work hours. If you can swing it, try working from home on days when important packages are expected. If thats not possible, coordinate with friends, family members or roommates so someone is always there to grabthe delivery right away.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE A woman receiving packages at home (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 4: Coordinate with your neighborsDont underestimate the power of community. Teaming up with your neighbors can be a game-changer in preventing package theft. Sign up for neighborhood porch pirate alerts from popular local networks likeNeighbors andNextdoor apps. This is where people often post when they've had a package stolen and sometimes upload videos or images of the suspected porch pirates. Plus, making an agreement with trusted neighbors to watch each others packages can really enhance security; there's strength in numbers. A person picking up packages for their neighbor (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 5: Have the package delivered somewhere elseIf home delivery feels too risky, consider alternative delivery options that offer more security. Many people choose to have their packages sent to their workplace if allowed; this way, theyre less likely to be stolen than sitting on a porch all day. Retailers often provide secure pickup points where you can collect your packages at your convenience. Renting a P.O. Box or using services that hold packages for pickup at local shipping facilities are also great options for those valuable items. A woman receiving packages at her workplace (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 6: Request a signature confirmationAnother way to prevent package theft is to request a signature confirmation for your deliveries. This means that the delivery person will not leave the package at your door unless someone signs for it. You can request a signature confirmation from most delivery services, such as FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL. This option may cost extra, but it can give you peace of mind that your package will not be stolen.Tip 7: Send to remote pick-up locationsDid you know that most delivery services now offer remote pick-up locations? These can be secure lockers, post offices or retail counters. Amazon has hundreds of Amazon Lockers and pick-up counters across the country, which are free for Prime members.See howfar away the nearest Amazon Locker is located from your home.When you're checking out, just click onChange next to your shipping address, then selectFind a pickup location near you to see your options. Once your package is delivered, you'll get a notification or email with a code to retrieve it from the locker or pick-up point. Some items can even be returned at these locations. A person picking up a package from a locker (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 8: Amazon Key In-Garage DeliveryWe added a strong deadbolt to the door leading into the house from the garage before signing up. Now, when we are not home, an Amazon delivery can be placed securely inside our garage using the free service called Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery. The addition of asmart garage controller is the first step. Once you've signed up for Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery, pick Key Delivery when checking out on Amazon to have your packages securely put in the garage. I really like that you can block access to your garage any time you want. The driver never needs your garage code, and access only works for their one-time delivery. A delivery being made using Amazon Key-In-Garage Delivery (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 9: Provide a delivery boxAnother great option is to invest in adelivery box that allows packages to be securely dropped off and stored discreetly. Just remember that you'll need to inform delivery personnel about using the box and how it works. Package being placed in a delivery box (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Tip 10: Sign up for delivery notificationsYou can get an alert each time a package arrives at your doorstep.Both FedEx and UPS will send a text when you've just received a delivery.Amazon will also send you a shipment text letting you know a package has just been delivered.To set upAmazon delivery notifications, follow these quick steps.Log on to theAmazon siteGo toYour Account sectionScroll down to theCommunication and Content sectionTapShipment Updates via TextFollow the on-screen instructions, tapSubscribeKurt's key takeawaysRemember, simple actions like installing security cameras, using tracking apps and coordinating with neighbors can go a long way in protecting your packages. So, as you prepare for the holiday season, take these tips to heart and enjoy a worry-free gift-giving experience. Let's keep those porch pirates at bay and ensure that every package arrives safely at your doorstep.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHave you ever had a package stolen? If so, how did you handle the situation, and what lessons did you learn?Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Unbeatable Best Black Friday dealsBest gifts forMen |Women |Kids |Teens |Pet loversBest deals:Laptops |DesktopsCopyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? 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