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
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…
The Louvre detective? Mystery dapper 'detective' in AP photo after the Louvre heist creates social media buzz

Mystery Man in Dapper Attire Sparks Online Frenzy After Louvre Heist

PARIS — In the aftermath of the audacious theft of the crown…
Hormel recalls 4.8M pounds of frozen chicken after multiple metal contamination reports

Hormel Initiates Recall of 4.8 Million Pounds of Frozen Chicken Due to Metal Contamination Concerns

Hormel Foods has chosen to withdraw several of its frozen chicken offerings…
'Brazen' Louvre thieves made targeted heist, treasures could be melted down: expert

Inside the Heist: A Cinematic Jewel Theft Unfolds in Paris

Every now and then, journalists come across stories so extraordinary that even…
Slain motorcyclist’s sweetheart says $50K bail for murder suspect with criminal record left her ‘hopeless’

Motorcyclist’s Partner Expresses Dismay Over $50K Bail for Murder Suspect With Previous Criminal Record

The bereaved partner of a motorcyclist who lost his life in Washington…
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,…
One hospitalized after suspected shooting at Austin public library prompting massive police response

Suspected Shooting at Austin Library Triggers Major Police Response, One Person Hospitalized

A serious incident unfolded at the Austin Central Library in Texas on…
Trump’s $230M DOJ settlement bid likely has few legal backstops

Trump’s $230M DOJ Settlement Proposal Faces Legal Hurdles, Experts Say

Former President Donald Trump is pursuing a substantial compensation claim, potentially amounting…
Family matriarch dies day after rescue from remote island that saw family swim ashore to escape boat fire

Tragic Turn: Family Matriarch Passes Away After Dramatic Rescue from Remote Island Following Boat Fire

A day after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a woman…
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…
Melodee Buzzard disappearance: New surveillance photos show missing California girl, 9, in possible disguise

New Surveillance Images Suggest Possible Disguise in Case of Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard in California

On Friday, California authorities unveiled new surveillance footage in the ongoing search…
Did anybody win Friday's $680M Mega Millions jackpot?

Discover if Anyone Hit the $680 Million Mega Millions Jackpot on Friday!

The latest Mega Millions jackpot reached a staggering $680 million, making it…