How to Discover Who Sent Me a Package

Cindy Ellis - January 2, 2024

Millions of deliveries take place each day, and that number continues to grow. What makes them so common is how easy it’s become to order packages online or send things to your friends or family members. That said, what happens if you don’t know who sent you a package? This can be due to a mix-up, a scam, or a letter from a long-lost friend or family member. While you may not know who sent it, the good news is that we can help you find out.

Information.com offers several tools to help you identify the sender of a package using the information you can find on its postage receipt. You can use their name, address, or even phone number if you can find it. Read on to learn more about who sent me a package below.

Why It’s Important to Know Who Sent You a Package

You don’t want strangers sending you packages because you may not know what’s inside. What’s more, it’s a good idea to know who’s sending you a package to avoid any confusion or to check and see if you ordered something online. Learn about some reasons to verify who sent you a package below.

Identity Verification

You should always know who sent you something before you open it. This can help you identify if the package is yours or if you got your neighbor’s package by mistake. You can do so by checking to see what the shipping address is on the package. Plus, this can help you know what’s inside the box, and that can spark your memory if you forget that you ordered a specific item.

You should also verify a sender’s identity to avoid scams and potentially dangerous things that may be inside a package. Identity verification can also help you return packages and avoid brushing scams, work-from-home scams, and other problems. For this reason, you should always know who sent you a package.

Brushing Scams

A new scam that’s been cropping up in the past few years is a brushing scam. This scam is most popular among Amazon packages, but you may receive a box full of cheap items out of the blue. For example, you might get a few toys or dolls in a package when you didn’t order anything online. The purpose of this scam is for Amazon sellers to boost their product ratings on the platform.

Typically, they won’t want the products back, and you won’t get in trouble for keeping them, but you should report this to Amazon or any other carrier to prevent it from happening again.

Returns

Identifying the sender is essential if you want to return the package. You’ll need to know the address and a few more tidbits of information about them if you plan on sending your package back. While the packing slip or shipping label should contain this information, sometimes it might not be legible, or it could get lost during the shipping process. Thankfully, you should be able to find the address, and from there, you can use our address lookup tool to identify the sender.

These are only a handful of reasons to identify who sent you a package.

How to Figure Out Who Sent Me a Package

There are a handful of ways to figure out who sent you a package. You can use an address lookup tool, a people search tool, Google, and much more to find your answer. That said, we always prefer starting with an address lookup tool if you want a comprehensive report of the sender.

1. Contact the Shipping Carrier

The easiest way to discover who sent you a package is to contact the shipping carrier. This is because the shipping carrier will have all of the information from the sender. After all, it’s required before they send the package. Most shipping carriers are available via phone, email, or even in person if you want to visit your local post office.

The only time this might not work is if the carrier is Amazon, and it was sent to you as an anonymous gift. Some other carriers may also allow for this, but you can check the shipping label to get a return address if you need to return the item.

2. Check the Tracking Number

Most packages are sent with a tracking number. These tracking numbers are there to let you know when a package will arrive, but sometimes they contain information about the sender. For example, you might learn about the address that a package is coming from when you view the tracking details. In some cases, you may even find the name of the person who sent you the package in the tracking information.

The tracking information may also contain details about how to contact the carrier, which can help you get in touch with them to learn more about the sender. Most carriers have a tracking service that you can access via text message, email, or online at their website.

3. Address Lookup Tools

When you can’t find any information from the tracking number and can’t get ahold of the shipping company, address lookup tools are the next best way to find out who sent you a package. Information.com offers a comprehensive address lookup tool that can help you identify a sender’s name, phone number, email address, and other details by entering their address. Plus, all you need to get started is their address, city, and state.

From there, enter the information into our address lookup tool and let Information.com do the rest. You can view surface-level information for free or pay to open the full report and learn important details about the sender of a package like their criminal records, court records, and much more

4. Check the Shipping Label

Packages are sent with shipping labels. These labels identify the sender and function as a return address for companies. When you check the shipping label, you should find someone’s name, address, and other contact information. This can help you identify the sender, and you can run their name through a people search to learn more or Google the company to learn more details about it.

This method is reliable, but some packages are sent anonymously, so this will only sometimes work. Also, the name might not always be present on the label. Instead, it might be a company, so we recommend using our address lookup tool or Google to learn more about the company if you need to.

5. Check the Packing Slip

Most packages will have a piece of paper inside, known as the packing slip. This slip will contain some basic information about the sender, including their name and address. If it’s a company, you can identify the company that sent you the package this way, but if it’s a personal package, there might not be a packing slip, or it might only have the address on it.

In latter cases, there’s no need to panic because you can enter the address into our address lookup tool to learn more about the sender. You can identify the name of the sender and much more when you enter the information into our tool. Google searches also come in handy when it comes to addresses, so feel free to explore multiple options until you find what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about who’s sending you a package? We answer the most commonly asked questions below.

How Can I Find Out Where My UPS Package Came From?

UPS offers information about the sender via a tracking number that you get through your email, so we recommend checking there first. The tracking number will often reveal the zip code of the sender and sometimes more information. If the package is at the post office, you can contact them, and sometimes they can provide you with more information about the sender. That said, if you want to avoid the hassle, we recommend starting with an address lookup tool to see what you can find.

How Can I Find Out Where a Tracking Number Is From?

When you want to learn more about a tracking number, the best option is to contact the shipping company. UPS makes it easy to find this information, but other companies like FedEx and Amazon have their tracking information, so you’ll have to contact them. Luckily, they can inform you about the sender once you tell them the tracking number.

How Can I Track a Package?

If you’re waiting for a package and want to know its status, the best thing you can do is track it. Most carriers have tracking options that allow you to view where a package is as well as an estimation for when it will arrive. Some carriers will also let you know milestones along the way, like when it shipped, who’s carrying the package, and the time that it will arrive. Visit the carrier’s website or check your email for tracking information.

Can Packages Be Sent Anonymously?

Yes, packages can be sent anonymously. Senders can hide their name and address when sending you a gift, making it even harder to identify the sender. In these cases, your best bet is to contact the support team for the courier service. This is most common on Amazon because Amazon makes it easy for people to send packages anonymously.

Find Out Who Sent You a Package Today

The sender of a package doesn’t have to be a mystery anymore because you can verify anything that reaches your door with our address lookup tool. It will help you identify where the package came from, who sent it, and any names or phone numbers associated with the sender.

Ultimately, it’s the most comprehensive way to learn more about who sent you a package. That said, some other tools like Google and other online databases can also help if you are still looking for a solution.