How to protect yourself from international scam that inundated South Loop, Chicago restaurant owner with boxes of BBQ sauce
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s a mystery landing on porches across the country: unwanted boxes piling up for weeks, or even months.

It may look like a shipping mistake or a strange promotion, but experts say this is a scam carried out by international businesses.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Nicole Nassif says unwanted Walmart boxes kept showing up at her doorstep.

“I came home one day and there was a box at my front door that was addressed to my restaurant at my home address,” Nassif said.

Nassif opened the box to find two bottles of barbeque sauce inside. As a restaurant owner, she wondered if it was a promotion.

“But then more boxes started arriving, each containing two bottles of Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce. I was unsure how to handle it, so I began reaching out to the senders listed on the return labels,” shared Nassif.

The shipments were not from the real Sweet Baby Ray’s in the Chicago area, but from an international reseller. One box after another kept coming.

“There was a lot of confusion,” Nassif said.

Nassif realized that her eatery, Imee’s Mediterranean Kitchen, located in the South Loop, was being falsely represented on Walmart Marketplace. Her residence was falsely used as the “return address.”

Eli Clemens from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation explains that foreign businesses are using U.S. addresses as a tactic to bypass regulations for international sellers. They aim to avoid the cost of prepaid international return labels and are not interested in retrieving their products.

“Unfortunately, I think U.S. consumers are just going to be the victims in this, and there’s not a lot of options for recourse,” Clemens said.

Nassif says it took several weeks, dozens of emails and follow-up calls to get Walmart to remove her address as that “return address.”

“It was a full-time job. I spent 60 hours, at least,” Nassif said.

Walmart informed ABC7, “The integrity of our Marketplace is paramount, and we employ various verification processes and ongoing surveillance to ensure only legitimate sellers operate on our platform. We do not tolerate inaccuracies and promptly remove any noncompliant listings.”

Nassif reached out to our San Francisco affiliate after they ran a similar story in the Bay Area. In that case, a woman received Amazon packages she didn’t order for over a year. Amazon expressed its apologies and assisted her in resolving the matter.

Nassif says she is thankful that her boxes of barbecue sauce have stopped stacking up.

“Honestly, it was nuts. I was like, ‘What in the hay is going on?'” Nassif said.

So, how can you protect yourself?

Experts advise that while challenging, utilizing data deletion services can help minimize your online presence. If you encounter a similar issue, thoroughly document the situation and reach out to the platform for assistance.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
NFL news: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out for Chicago Bears Week 8 matchup on Sunday

Lamar Jackson to Miss Week 8 Showdown: Ravens Face Bears Without Star Quarterback

BALTIMORE — The upcoming weekend marks a pivotal moment for the Baltimore…
FBI Director Kash Patel plans travel to China in fentanyl crackdown effort

FBI Director Kash Patel to Visit China in Strategic Move to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to travel to China next month,…
Trump witnesses Thailand, Cambodia sign peace expansion months after brokering ceasefire

Historic Peace Expansion: Trump Celebrates Landmark Thailand-Cambodia Accord Following Ceasefire Success

On Sunday, Cambodia and Thailand officially extended a ceasefire agreement that was…
Carjacking victim arrested after allegedly shooting boy breaking into his car during Atlanta confrontation

Atlanta Carjacking Twist: Victim Faces Charges After Shooting Alleged Teenage Thief

An Atlanta man found himself in handcuffs after allegedly shooting a teenager…
June Lockhart, beloved mother figure from 'Lassie' and 'Lost In Space,' dies at 100 in Santa Monica

Farewell to June Lockhart: Celebrating the Iconic TV Mom from ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost In Space’ at 100

In SANTA MONICA, Calif., June Lockhart, cherished as a maternal figure by…
Freed Gaza Prisoner Reveals “Hell Beneath the Ground”

Inside Gaza’s Underground Nightmare: A Former Detainee’s Harrowing Tale

A recently freed Palestinian detainee has delivered devastating testimony detailing what he…
Can AI keep students motivated, or does it do the opposite?

Unlocking Student Potential: How AI Transforms Motivation in the Classroom

Imagine a student employing a writing assistant fueled by a generative AI…
Asking Eric: Friendship disrupted by house full of security cameras

Home Surveillance Strains Friendship: How Eric’s Security Cameras Created Tension

Dear Eric: I’m deeply concerned about losing a cherished friendship. I met…
Chicago immigration activity: Federal agents detain worker in Old Irving Park, appear to use tear gas; fear disrupts local parade

Federal Agents Detain Worker in Old Irving Park, Tear Gas Suspected; Local Parade Plunged into Chaos in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Saturday, federal agents were once again active on…
Jackson Chance Foundation to raise money for NICU families at 11th annual Ping Pong Ball at SPIN Chicago in River North

Join the 11th Annual Ping Pong Ball at SPIN Chicago to Support NICU Families with Jackson Chance Foundation

CHICAGO — The Jackson Chance Foundation is gearing up for its 11th…
Study links TikTok use to Gen Z women’s attraction to criminals

New Study Reveals Surprising Connection Between TikTok Use and Gen Z Women’s Interest in ‘Bad Boys

Gen Z Women Are Swooning Over These Men! A recent study reveals…
Serbian foreign minister proposes hosting Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations amid ongoing conflict

Serbia Offers Neutral Ground for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: A Diplomatic Step Towards Resolution

EXCLUSIVE: Marko Djuric, the Foreign Minister of Serbia, revealed to Fox News…