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Buzz Feed
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
52 Of The Best Father's Day Gifts To Give In 2025
A pop-up Father's Day card for the dad who always seems stoic and reserved but will melt into a puddle of love the second he opens a card from his favorite child. (That's you!) Poems of Parenting, a book of relatable poems that'll have any new or seasoned parent laughing, crying, and feeling ALL the things. It perfectly captures what it's like to be a parent in today's world in hilarious but emotional sentiments he'll find himself showing to his partner like, "LOOK, THIS IS US!" A rechargeable heated ice cream scoop so he won't have to wait for his Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream to soften before *literally* digging in. Not a moment to waste!!! Murdle, Volume 1, a compilation of murder mystery–themed logic puzzles that are reminiscent of the ever-popular Wordle game. This version will encourage Dad to use powers of deduction and various clues to solve the mysteries throughout the book. Sherlock Holmes, who? Self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint (ooh, la, la!) that'll transform any ol' day into a spa day — they'll get him *back on his feet* and feeling refreshed in no time. A bee-proof and drip-free copper hummingbird feeder will indulge Dad in his newfound interest in bird watching (which would explain all the texts you keep getting about the American Goldfinch) while adding a beautiful new addition to his outdoor space. A Cremo "Vintage Suede" body wash reviewers say smells just like Tom Ford — it's filled with scents of white moss and rich amber and will make every shower feel like a luxury (which Dad totally deserves after a day of parenting). A reusable smartnotebook to seamlessly combine his love of handwritten notes with the ease of taking them digitally. (Here's to you, Rocketbook app!) As he writes in this seemingly magical notebook, his notes will *also* be recorded in the app. Is it 2025 or 3025? An NHL puck–shaped glass coaster that'll pay tribute to his most beloved team *and* finally get your husband to stop leaving his darn beverages to sweat all over your coffee table while he's engrossed in a game. Get it together, Dad. A fan-favorite Carhartt baseball cap with over 8.4K 5-star reviews to replace the dusty, dog-chewed one Dad is always wearing to cut the grass or drop the kids off at school — it's about time he had a fresh one, don't ya think? Fry-shaped clips that'll bring a new meaning to the term "chip clip" — they come in a magnetic lil' box Dad can stick directly onto the fridge for easy access (no more digging through the junk drawer while his beloved Cool Ranch Doritos get stale). A Ponytail Palm you can jokingly gift in remembrance of that time your dad grew his hair long enough to put up in a ponytail, but your mom hated it with every fiber of her being and BEGGED him to cut it off. May this easy-to-maintain tree live longer than Dad's divisive beauty statement. A set of glass spice containers featuring built-in retractable spoons because Dad (and the rest of your family's tastebuds, for that matter) still hasn't recovered from that time he accidentally added salt into his recipe instead of sugar. These will ensure he adds *just* the right amount (and ingredient) to his meals. A lightweight Veer All-Terrain Cruiser stroller/wagon with a ton of practical accessories and configurations that'll make it an integral part of all your family's outdoor excursions from now through the fall! Dad can load it up and hit the playground like he would have the *~clurb~* back in the 2010s. A "Grateful Dad" tee that'll perfectly encapsulate his love for "The Dead" and his devotion to making sure his lawn is the most flawless one on the block. A two-for-one gift to check ALL of the boxes. A "Beverage Buddee" can cover he can add to his Coke Zero can (my dad's fave), his preferred seltzer, or the Coors Light that's become synonymous with his request you grab him a beer. It'll keep bugs and other random debris out of his drink (yuck) so he can enjoy it while getting stressed out over the Yankees. Papa Doesn't Do Anything! — the latest installment in Jimmy Fallon's picture book series devoted to family members like "Dada, "Mama," and "Nana." Have your kids sign (scribble/draw a rainbow/etc.) on the inside and present it to Grandpa with a big ol' hug on Father's Day. A mouthwatering charcuterie gift tower packed to the brim with anything and everything your spread-loving dad could possibly want as a Father's Day snack. We're talkin' spinach dip, olive oil mini breadsticks, flatbread crackers, Mountain View Farms' cheddar, an array of fancy olives, raspberry honey mustard, hot pepper jelly, marinated artichokes, and cinnamon glazed almonds. Y-U-M. The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook complete with 150 recipes, all using ingredients Dad can pick up at his beloved supermarket of choice. He can spend the next month cooking up a storm! A neck reading light that'll be easy on the eyes, simpler to manage than a clip-on light, and be a welcomed addition to Dad's nightly routine of falling asleep while reading his book. A ThermoPro wireless meat thermometer with Bluetooth capabilities that'll let Dad know his steak is *perfectly* cooked to his liking — no more second guessing when he's workin' the grill while also trying to entertain guests with endless witty banter. A classic bocce ball set like the set your grandparents had growing up that'll bring back fond memories for them and help you all create new ones together. A vintage-style six-in-one Bluetooth record player that'll let Dad live out each and every one of his musical eras — it can play vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, the radio, *and* can connect to Bluetooth to utilize that Spotify or Apple Music subscription he's been yammering on about. Plus, an acrylic vinyl holder to store some of his favorite records while also showing anyone who sets foot in your living room what great taste in music he has. Hope your friends are ready for an education on Meat Loaf and Def Leppard. A Lego Land Rover Classic Defender 90 for anyone who has always dreamt about owning this timeless vehicle and would happily settle for one made from Lego Bricks. A golf club–cleaning squeeze bottle complete with a nylon brush that'll ensure Dad's clubs, golf balls, and shoes are the freshest-looking ones on the course. A cult-favorite G-Shock watch with over 18K 5-star reviews, sure to "wow" your hard-to-impress Pops — it's super durable (a must for any dad who is hard on, well, everything he owns). It has a bunch of practical features like water resistance, shock resistance, stopwatch, alarms, and world time Dad will surely appreciate. A spooktacular popcorn maker and bowl that'll pair perfectly with his BIG Slasher Summer plans (a.k.a. when he forces the entire household to partake and the horror flicks give everyone nightmares). All he'll have to do is pour kernels into the "skull" and let the microwave do its thing for three minutes. Then, voilà! He'll have eight cups of popcorn to toss all over the couch when Michael Myers once again sneaks up on a precious, unsuspecting teen. An indoor-outdoor hammock chair with the ability to soothingly rock Dad or Grandpa to sleep for a nice midday nap or make him feel like he's on vacation even if the kids are running laps around and screaming simultaneously. An outlet light, because chances are your dad is TOTALLY over accidentally walking into walls when getting up in the middle for a glass of water — this lil' gadget will subtly light his way without the need for a bulkier option. As a bonus gift you can even offer to install it for thoughtful of you! An airplane phone holder your Frequent Flyer Father can clip onto the tray in front of him whenever he travels — no need to *only* choose from the handful of meh movies the airline is showing. It can also be used at home whenever he wants to watch Nonnas, We Live In Time, or whatever other movie your mom has been trying to get him to watch hands-free. A beautiful Haws watering can and mister set because it's about time we acknowledged how serious your dad is about his gardening. He can use this top-of-the-line can to water his easily-could-be-prized tomato and zucchini plants and the mister to keep his lil' succulents happy 'n' thriving. New Balance 990 V6 sneakers for any dad with *~rizz~* and a sense of style — they aren't your stereotypical "Dad shoes," these will turn heads and announce to the world he's not a regular dad; he's a cool dad. A T-shirt with a racetrack on the back, so Dad can lay on the floor of the playroom and have a quick rest while simultaneously entertaining the kids. A win for everyone, if you ask me. On-theme bottle labels you can use to toast to any dad's first Father's Day. Simply apply to them to Dad's favorite bottled beverage, pop 'em in the carrier, and *boom* cutest gift ever. Waterproof playing cards, so he can get a fierce game of Go Fish going without fear of the moment the kids inevitably spill their drink all over the table. A fishing rod rack your happily retired grandpa can attach to the back of the garage door to ensure nothing ~fishy~ happens to his beloved rods. A pre-seasoned Carbon Steel Griddle that'll change Dad's grilling season forever — and extend it throughout the year! This bad boy can be used directly on the grill *and* gas, electric, and induction stovetops. It has sloped sides to prevent grease from escaping *gestures wildly* everywhere (phew, less cleanup) and is, honestly, going to have the entire family begging him to make smash burgers weekly. A pickleball set to pay homage to his new favorite hobby! It comes with two paddles, four balls, and a bag to ensure he has the best-looking gear of all his competitors. Your hot streak is about to be OVER, Mom! And a pickleball tote bag with a specific attachment to store paddles, plus ample space for balls and accessories so he can focus on crushing his smack-talking neighbor Steve instead of rummaging through an unorganized duffel. A pack of Old Fashioned Cocktail Tea Bags so Dear Old Dad can whip up his go-to cocktail, kick back, and relax after dealing with all of you and your siblings' nonsense for the majority of his life. All he'll need to do is steep the bag in cold water and a spirit of his choice (bourbon is recommended, but it can also be made as a mocktail) until the majority of the bag dissolves. Cheers to that! A filtering straw that'll keep any grinds from traveling up, out, and into Dad's mouth. This happened to me recently while sipping on an iced instant coffee... I promptly had to rinse my mouth out. Spare him this unpleasant experience, will ya? Not only will this straw filter out any debris, but he can also use it to brew coffee *directly* into any mug or cup (for cold brew). Genius. A Fellow Aiden Precision Drip Coffee Maker you and your siblings can all contribute to with confidence, knowing it'll blow the very old school carafe Dad has been using to make his coffee for eons out of the water. This one has the same ability to make a big ol' batch like Dad loves to do for the fam, but likely without the risk of starting a fire in the kitchen (seriously, his coffee pot is SO OLD). This one is sleek *and* can also whip up a single pour-over cup, in case Dad feels like being selfish once in a while. Or, Oxo's compact Brew Rapid Brewer that'll have any dad wondering, "Where has this been all of my life?" He can toss it into his work bag and literally make cold brew or hot coffee at his desk after surviving the carpool lane — it doesn't need to be plugged in or charged! A heated eye massager complete with five different massage modes and Bluetooth sound so Dad can fully indulge, relax, and catch up on his favorite podcast while relieving pain from eye strain and headaches. A Saucemoto dip clip, because eating fries while parked in the car just tastes better and Dad shouldn't have to sacrifice his favorite dipping sauce to do so! I can't think of a better lil' gift to give your pal who can often be found eating Chick-fil-A in between driving his kids to and from soccer practice. A 44-piece Mjölnir toolbox your Dad will love if he's the one everyone asks to fix everything — if he's *also* a Marvel fan, he will have an absolute ball reaching for Thor's mighty hammer the next time he has to put together a dresser. A Nintendo Switch OLED with a 7-inch screen, a wide adjustable stand, enhanced audio, and an overall pleasant gaming experience dads will be thrilled to crack open after a day of tending to little minds, working on cars, answering phones, or typing up emails (whatever it is he does for a living in addition to keep his OWN kids alive). Purchase a low-stakes game like Super Mario Bros. Wonder or take a more ambitious approach with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to leave the lingering stressors of his day behind. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom — The Complete Official Guide — an absolute must-have for anyone who has been playing (and loving!) the latest installment of the saga. Even if your partner has already beaten the game, this will get him all kinds of compliments when his pals/fellow gamers spot it on the coffee table. A set of anti-slip glasses holders Dad can count on to *literally* support him throughout the entire day — he won't find himself making that infamously nerdy "pushing-up-my-glasses-because-they're-sliding-down-my-face" move anytime soon. A luggage drink caddy that'll attach to his wheeled luggage — it'll be a saving grace when traveling if your dad likes to be the one in charge of holding onto everyone's passport and boarding passes along with EVERYTHING else. He can use it to hold his Dunkin' coffee, phone, ID, etc., and prevent him from fumbling around for all those items while heading to the gate at the airport, family in tow. And a set of Loop Engage 2 earplugs explicitly designed to mute all kinds of noise, so Dear Old Dad can get what he really wants this holiday: a break. Fear not, though; they won't make him completely soundproof, so, unfortunately for him, he'll still be able to hear you ask him to help you look for the TV remote (that he's sitting on, as per usual).
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
How home of Sherlock Holmes is centre of cybercrime mystery with scam packages being sent to Baker St address every day
HE is the pipe-puffing sleuth who has solved the most complex of murders and snared international criminal masterminds. But it seems even Sherlock Holmes is not safe from Britain's Advertisement 6 Sherlock Holmes' London base, at 221B Baker Street, is at the centre of its very own mystery Credit: Alamy 6 The Sun witnessed Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there Credit: Peter Jordan 6 The parcel had been dispatched from an address in France, and was supposed to be returned to Indian firm Mandasa Technologies Credit: Peter Jordan The 19th Century fictional detective's London base, at 221B Baker Street, is at the centre of its very own mystery, after a Sun investigation found it is being bombarded with rogue packages almost daily. The posh Marylebone address — now a museum dedicated to writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation — is being targeted as a fake returns hub for junk products from Chinese and Indian web retailers. Staff revealed drivers from Evri, Parcelforce and Amazon have been rocking up for a year now with packages labelled for internet firms that don't have a British address. The dodge saves shady overseas internet sellers from stumping up high shipping fees for faulty or unwanted returns to warehouses across the globe. Advertisement read more on uk news It also means some companies can claim they do not need to refund customers as they did not get the item back, even though they gave a deliberately fake address. When The Sun visited 221B Baker Street this week, we saw Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there. A female driver attempted to hand over a cardboard box, which staff inspected before rejecting it. The parcel, which weighed only 100 grams, had been dispatched from an address in Beauvais, northern France, and was supposed to be returned to Indian firm Mandasa Technologies. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The web tech company claims to help small firms 'establish, market, optimise and develop their e-commerce businesses'. But it has no London office and is based in India's Madhya Pradesh region — some 4,500 miles away. Fraud website run in UK used to fleece up to 70,000 Brits taken down by cops in huge operation at 37 arrested We have asked the firm to comment on their use of the UK address. There is no suggestion the courier firms are doing anything wrong. Advertisement The baffled Parcelforce worker we saw try to make the delivery told us: 'It seems bizarre people would return it here. 'I noticed the address was 221B Baker Street, but I assumed there's maybe another company works here. 6 Staff inspected the package before rejecting it Credit: Peter Jordan 6 Museum staff revealed the rate of fake deliveries has soared in the past six months Credit: Peter Jordan Advertisement 'They told me they wouldn't take the delivery, so now it will just be held at a warehouse or sent off for donation or auction.' 'Obviously fake' Museum gift shop manager Mohamed Ahmed, who has worked there for seven years, revealed the rate of fake deliveries had soared in the past six months. He told The Sun: 'The first time we got a parcel, we opened it and it was just some cables, so we realised quickly it wasn't for us. "Now all our staff know to just reject them. Advertisement "It is annoying and confusing, but this is the best-known address in London. 'It needs someone like 'We have tried to ask Amazon and eBay for help, but they say it's difficult to stop each one.' Worker Luc Grant, who poses as a Victorian copper with Sherlock fans outside the museum, added: 'I see the vans try to deliver things quite often when I'm here. Advertisement 'This is such a well-known address, but none of the packages has anything to do with us.' I see the vans try to deliver things quite often when I'm here Worker Luc Grant, who poses as a Victorian copper with Sherlock fans outside the museum Exasperated museum staff have been driven to ask Royal Mail to stop delivering items not addressed directly to the museum. Daniel Thackray, 43, spotted Sherlock's address on product return details from a China-based seller last week. The dad-of-one, from Portsmouth, flagged the ploy to eBay after making his purchase through their site. Advertisement But he said they told him he still had to follow the seller's instructions if he wanted his money back. Daniel explained: 'I ordered a gift for my son, but it arrived broken and was obviously fake. 'When they sent over information to send the product back, my wife laughed and told me that was Sherlock's address. "She'd just finished watching the TV series last week. Advertisement 6 Label showing the Indian firm using Holmes' address Credit: Peter Jordan 'When I called the museum, the staff knew straight away what I was talking about. "They sounded like it was the bane of their lives. "These scammers could have chosen any random address, but they had to choose Sherlock's house. Advertisement 'It might be the only British address they know. 'They actually don't want to get these returns back, so it's easier to send them there.' I ordered a gift for my son, but it arrived broken and was obviously fake Daniel Thackray Both eBay and Amazon told The Sun they would urgently investigate the use of 221B Baker Street as a returns address. An eBay spokesman added it would give Daniel a full refund, insisting: 'We expect our sellers to provide a high standard of customer service.' Advertisement An Amazon spokesman said: 'We are investigating, and if anyone has incorrectly listed this address for returns, we will take immediate action. "We apologise for any inconvenience and will be arranging the collection of the packages.' PLOY IS SO HARD TO STOP By Thomas Godfrey FOREIGN companies use false UK return addresses to avoid having to ship broken, faulty or fake goods to warehouses halfway around the world. Most do not want dodgy products back anyway, and this saves cash, time and space. But the ploy means innocent Brits, including staff at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, are being caught in the crossfire of the cyber-fraud epidemic. In some cases, customers have been told by web retailers that they will not get a refund unless they package up their product and send it off, even if the return address is obviously fraudulent, fake or a nationally recognised landmark. Professor Mark Button, director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth (above), said: 'The scale at which online shopping fraud now operates is so big, not even Sherlock Holmes could solve it. 'There's been a 33 per cent increase in fraud cases and the biggest driver is cyber fraud. 'In cases like this, there are two victims – the customer, who loses out, and the museum, who have to deal with a huge amount of hassle. 'There will be other addresses used by these companies which aren't notable, and in those cases it might be a family or a small business being harassed.' Professor Button warned that if UK firms tried the same scam, they would likely have cops at their door. But he admitted: 'When foreign companies are involved, nobody really has the power to stop them.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
How home of Sherlock Holmes is centre of cybercrime mystery with scam packages being sent to Baker St address every day
When The Sun visited 221B Baker Street, we saw Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there SHERLOCK SCAM How home of Sherlock Holmes is centre of cybercrime mystery with scam packages being sent to Baker St address every day HE is the pipe-puffing sleuth who has solved the most complex of murders and snared international criminal masterminds. But it seems even Sherlock Holmes is not safe from Britain's cyber crime epidemic. Advertisement 6 Sherlock Holmes' London base, at 221B Baker Street, is at the centre of its very own mystery Credit: Alamy 6 The Sun witnessed Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there Credit: Peter Jordan 6 The parcel had been dispatched from an address in France, and was supposed to be returned to Indian firm Mandasa Technologies Credit: Peter Jordan The 19th Century fictional detective's London base, at 221B Baker Street, is at the centre of its very own mystery, after a Sun investigation found it is being bombarded with rogue packages almost daily. The posh Marylebone address — now a museum dedicated to writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation — is being targeted as a fake returns hub for junk products from Chinese and Indian web retailers. Staff revealed drivers from Evri, Parcelforce and Amazon have been rocking up for a year now with packages labelled for internet firms that don't have a British address. The dodge saves shady overseas internet sellers from stumping up high shipping fees for faulty or unwanted returns to warehouses across the globe. Advertisement It also means some companies can claim they do not need to refund customers as they did not get the item back, even though they gave a deliberately fake address. When The Sun visited 221B Baker Street this week, we saw Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there. A female driver attempted to hand over a cardboard box, which staff inspected before rejecting it. The parcel, which weighed only 100 grams, had been dispatched from an address in Beauvais, northern France, and was supposed to be returned to Indian firm Mandasa Technologies. Advertisement The web tech company claims to help small firms 'establish, market, optimise and develop their e-commerce businesses'. But it has no London office and is based in India's Madhya Pradesh region — some 4,500 miles away. Fraud website run in UK used to fleece up to 70,000 Brits taken down by cops in huge operation at 37 arrested We have asked the firm to comment on their use of the UK address. There is no suggestion the courier firms are doing anything wrong. Advertisement The baffled Parcelforce worker we saw try to make the delivery told us: 'It seems bizarre people would return it here. 'I noticed the address was 221B Baker Street, but I assumed there's maybe another company works here. 6 Staff inspected the package before rejecting it Credit: Peter Jordan 6 Museum staff revealed the rate of fake deliveries has soared in the past six months Credit: Peter Jordan Advertisement 'They told me they wouldn't take the delivery, so now it will just be held at a warehouse or sent off for donation or auction.' 'Obviously fake' Museum gift shop manager Mohamed Ahmed, who has worked there for seven years, revealed the rate of fake deliveries had soared in the past six months. He told The Sun: 'The first time we got a parcel, we opened it and it was just some cables, so we realised quickly it wasn't for us. "Now all our staff know to just reject them. Advertisement "It is annoying and confusing, but this is the best-known address in London. 'It needs someone like Sherlock Holmes to solve where they are all coming from and what we can do to stop it. 'We have tried to ask Amazon and eBay for help, but they say it's difficult to stop each one.' Worker Luc Grant, who poses as a Victorian copper with Sherlock fans outside the museum, added: 'I see the vans try to deliver things quite often when I'm here. Advertisement 'This is such a well-known address, but none of the packages has anything to do with us.' I see the vans try to deliver things quite often when I'm here Worker Luc Grant, who poses as a Victorian copper with Sherlock fans outside the museum Exasperated museum staff have been driven to ask Royal Mail to stop delivering items not addressed directly to the museum. Daniel Thackray, 43, spotted Sherlock's address on product return details from a China-based seller last week. The dad-of-one, from Portsmouth, flagged the ploy to eBay after making his purchase through their site. Advertisement But he said they told him he still had to follow the seller's instructions if he wanted his money back. Daniel explained: 'I ordered a gift for my son, but it arrived broken and was obviously fake. 'When they sent over information to send the product back, my wife laughed and told me that was Sherlock's address. "She'd just finished watching the TV series last week. Advertisement 6 Label showing the Indian firm using Holmes' address Credit: Peter Jordan 'When I called the museum, the staff knew straight away what I was talking about. "They sounded like it was the bane of their lives. "These scammers could have chosen any random address, but they had to choose Sherlock's house. Advertisement 'It might be the only British address they know. 'They actually don't want to get these returns back, so it's easier to send them there.' I ordered a gift for my son, but it arrived broken and was obviously fake Daniel Thackray Both eBay and Amazon told The Sun they would urgently investigate the use of 221B Baker Street as a returns address. An eBay spokesman added it would give Daniel a full refund, insisting: 'We expect our sellers to provide a high standard of customer service.' Advertisement An Amazon spokesman said: 'We are investigating, and if anyone has incorrectly listed this address for returns, we will take immediate action. "We apologise for any inconvenience and will be arranging the collection of the packages.' PLOY IS SO HARD TO STOP By Thomas Godfrey FOREIGN companies use false UK return addresses to avoid having to ship broken, faulty or fake goods to warehouses halfway around the world. Most do not want dodgy products back anyway, and this saves cash, time and space. But the ploy means innocent Brits, including staff at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, are being caught in the crossfire of the cyber-fraud epidemic. In some cases, customers have been told by web retailers that they will not get a refund unless they package up their product and send it off, even if the return address is obviously fraudulent, fake or a nationally recognised landmark. Professor Mark Button, director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth (above), said: 'The scale at which online shopping fraud now operates is so big, not even Sherlock Holmes could solve it. 'There's been a 33 per cent increase in fraud cases and the biggest driver is cyber fraud. 'In cases like this, there are two victims – the customer, who loses out, and the museum, who have to deal with a huge amount of hassle. 'There will be other addresses used by these companies which aren't notable, and in those cases it might be a family or a small business being harassed.' Professor Button warned that if UK firms tried the same scam, they would likely have cops at their door. But he admitted: 'When foreign companies are involved, nobody really has the power to stop them.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
How home of Sherlock Holmes is centre of cybercrime mystery with scam packages being sent to Baker St address every day
HE is the pipe-puffing sleuth who has solved the most complex of murders and snared international criminal masterminds. But it seems even Sherlock Holmes is not safe from Britain's cyber crime epidemic. 6 6 6 The 19th Century fictional detective's London base, at 221B Baker Street, is at the centre of its very own mystery, after a Sun investigation found it is being bombarded with rogue packages almost daily. The posh Marylebone address — now a museum dedicated to writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 's greatest creation — is being targeted as a fake returns hub for junk products from Chinese and Indian web retailers. Staff revealed drivers from Evri, Parcelforce and Amazon have been rocking up for a year now with packages labelled for internet firms that don't have a British address. The dodge saves shady overseas internet sellers from stumping up high shipping fees for faulty or unwanted returns to warehouses across the globe. It also means some companies can claim they do not need to refund customers as they did not get the item back, even though they gave a deliberately fake address. When The Sun visited 221B Baker Street this week, we saw Parcelforce try to deliver two packages after tricksters had them routed there. A female driver attempted to hand over a cardboard box, which staff inspected before rejecting it. The parcel, which weighed only 100 grams, had been dispatched from an address in Beauvais, northern France, and was supposed to be returned to Indian firm Mandasa Technologies. The web tech company claims to help small firms 'establish, market, optimise and develop their e-commerce businesses'. But it has no London office and is based in India's Madhya Pradesh region — some 4,500 miles away. Fraud website run in UK used to fleece up to 70,000 Brits taken down by cops in huge operation at 37 arrested We have asked the firm to comment on their use of the UK address. There is no suggestion the courier firms are doing anything wrong. The baffled Parcelforce worker we saw try to make the delivery told us: 'It seems bizarre people would return it here. 'I noticed the address was 221B Baker Street, but I assumed there's maybe another company works here. 6 6 'They told me they wouldn't take the delivery, so now it will just be held at a warehouse or sent off for donation or auction.' 'Obviously fake' Museum gift shop manager Mohamed Ahmed, who has worked there for seven years, revealed the rate of fake deliveries had soared in the past six months. He told The Sun: 'The first time we got a parcel, we opened it and it was just some cables, so we realised quickly it wasn't for us. "Now all our staff know to just reject them. "It is annoying and confusing, but this is the best-known address in London. 'It needs someone like Sherlock Holmes to solve where they are all coming from and what we can do to stop it. 'We have tried to ask Amazon and eBay for help, but they say it's difficult to stop each one.' Worker Luc Grant, who poses as a Victorian copper with Sherlock fans outside the museum, added: 'I see the vans try to deliver things quite often when I'm here. 'This is such a well-known address, but none of the packages has anything to do with us.' Exasperated museum staff have been driven to ask Royal Mail to stop delivering items not addressed directly to the museum. Daniel Thackray, 43, spotted Sherlock's address on product return details from a China-based seller last week. The dad-of-one, from Portsmouth, flagged the ploy to eBay after making his purchase through their site. But he said they told him he still had to follow the seller's instructions if he wanted his money back. Daniel explained: 'I ordered a gift for my son, but it arrived broken and was obviously fake. 'When they sent over information to send the product back, my wife laughed and told me that was Sherlock's address. "She'd just finished watching the TV series last week. 6 'When I called the museum, the staff knew straight away what I was talking about. "They sounded like it was the bane of their lives. "These scammers could have chosen any random address, but they had to choose Sherlock's house. 'It might be the only British address they know. 'They actually don't want to get these returns back, so it's easier to send them there.' Both eBay and Amazon told The Sun they would urgently investigate the use of 221B Baker Street as a returns address. An eBay spokesman added it would give Daniel a full refund, insisting: 'We expect our sellers to provide a high standard of customer service.' An Amazon spokesman said: 'We are investigating, and if anyone has incorrectly listed this address for returns, we will take immediate action. "We apologise for any inconvenience and will be arranging the collection of the packages.' PLOY IS SO HARD TO STOP By Thomas Godfrey FOREIGN companies use false UK return addresses to avoid having to ship broken, faulty or fake goods to warehouses halfway around the world. Most do not want dodgy products back anyway, and this saves cash, time and space. But the ploy means innocent Brits, including staff at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, are being caught in the crossfire of the cyber-fraud epidemic. In some cases, customers have been told by web retailers that they will not get a refund unless they package up their product and send it off, even if the return address is obviously fraudulent, fake or a nationally recognised landmark. Professor Mark Button, director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth (above), said: 'The scale at which online shopping fraud now operates is so big, not even Sherlock Holmes could solve it. 'There's been a 33 per cent increase in fraud cases and the biggest driver is cyber fraud. 'In cases like this, there are two victims – the customer, who loses out, and the museum, who have to deal with a huge amount of hassle. 'There will be other addresses used by these companies which aren't notable, and in those cases it might be a family or a small business being harassed.' Professor Button warned that if UK firms tried the same scam, they would likely have cops at their door. But he admitted: 'When foreign companies are involved, nobody really has the power to stop them.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Optical Illusion: You are a genius if you can spot which string is attached to the banana
Brainteasers aren't easy to handle. Despite appearances, science doesn't agree. These visual IQ challenges are like a little mental workout. You may improve your brain's ability to make decisions, reason logically, recognize patterns, and pay attention by challenging yourself with puzzles. Studies conducted by psychologists have demonstrated that answering visual riddles and brainteasers improves the same abilities that are employed in solving problems in the real world. Solving puzzles has been linked to improved memory, increased focus, and improved decision-making under duress. Because they have above-average spatial intelligence and reasoning skills, high performers frequently score highly on IQ tests. This demonstrates how the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobe, which control cognitive processes, benefit from puzzles. This lively logic puzzle will be a wonderful test of your visual tracking, logical mapping, and attention to detail—all abilities associated with high IQ and professional-level analytical thinking—if you also like mental challenges. There are four strings, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, to which a banana is fastened. The banana has only one string that is actually connected to it. In just five seconds, can you tell which one it is? Okay, this problem is for you if you enjoy Sherlock Holmes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Greatest Enemy of Blood Sugar? Try This Tonight! Magazine Glyco Learn More Undo A banana bound with a black string is seen. From beneath a wooden plank, four strings with the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are emerging. And the most important query of all: What string is attached to the banana? Why is this a difficult task? On the surface, it would appear to be a straightforward visual issue. However, after giving it a shot, you discover that you can't concentrate till the end. Since it could be challenging to see the strings from where they go behind the wooden block, your eyes may either overlap the strings. To follow each string's journey, focus intently and pay close attention to details. The banana is attached to only one of them. And this is where the majority of individuals trip. The brain wants to get to the answer right away. However, the most intelligent people lead because they understand that a few extra milliseconds of concentration can have a significant impact. To determine the correct string, apply professional-level logical reasoning and mapping. Act quickly! The clock is ticking. Your five seconds are about to expire. Choose your preferred option, then scroll down to view the solution. Answer to this optical illusion The solution is out! Congratulations if string 2 was your choice. You just demonstrated that you make logical, accurate, and visually clear decisions. The majority of respondents were unsuccessful at this task. Optical illusion: This art will confuse your senses One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
