Ftid!.txt
: Fraudsters may use online barcode readers to extract destination data and then digitally edit the label's address or barcode to ensure the tracking reflects a successful delivery even if the physical item never reaches the merchant's warehouse. Common Variations
: No changes are made to the label itself; instead, the package is sent empty or with heavy filler to mimic the original product's weight.
FTID (Fake Tracking ID) refers to a fraudulent practice used to exploit the return policies of major retailers. It involves manipulating shipping labels so that a package appears "delivered" to a carrier or the merchant while never actually containing the item intended for return. How FTID Works ftid!.txt
: Often considered the most "successful" by practitioners, this version involves deep digital editing of the barcode or destination address to ensure tracking is triggered while avoiding physical inspection at the intended destination. Legal and Ethical Risks
: In more advanced versions, the barcode is scanned and edited so that while it registers as "delivered" in the carrier's system, the physical package (often an empty envelope or a box filled with weight-simulating objects like rice) is sent to a different address or simply discarded. : Fraudsters may use online barcode readers to
FTID is frequently categorized into versions based on the level of label alteration:
: Personal and order-related information is removed from the label. This is intended to make it harder for the company to trace the package back to the user after it has been scanned as received. It involves manipulating shipping labels so that a
The core of the FTID method is the alteration of a prepaid return label's digital or physical data to redirect or obscure the package's contents.