Light bulb scammers making the rounds ...

They are prepaid labels. The amount is deducted from your refund.

It is not deducted if its Nordstrom, NM, Saks,  and similar. I order and return all the time. They refund every penny.
There are lower priced cataloges which do deduct because their profit margin is tight. This is why Ann Taylor has no excuse. They have a pretty good profit margin.

there was another message on my phone from people wanting to send me some clothes.

i didn't know if i had ordered the clothes, so i called the bank to find out if a gift card had been used in my name to purchase the clothes but it wasn't actually me.  these clothes sound like they're for children, and i've never had any children of my own.

was the call from me ?  can anyone help, i'm going to call the police.

Who are the people wanting to send you clothes? A reputable catalogue or someone on Craigs List or Ebay or similar?
If it's a catalogue they must have a credit card or a gift card on file otherwise why would they send you stuff ? No one does COD these days. Your best option is to warn them that you didn't order them.
If someone were to send me a surprise gift I know they wouldn't send me something that I wouldn't like or love.

my phone has a pin security number on it, when i answer i have to type in the pin and i think they may have stolen the pin.

this is a concern !

i've heard of people in other countries getting our pins and cashing checks.  i get social security checks and i don't want anyone cashing those checks and buying clothes with them.  those checks are for my own clothes and for food !  seniors should be protected from these people who cash checks without permission !

Hello sir, I don't want anyone to take away your social security or medicare. After all I am paying for it ! Just sent a huge check out. You are welcome. Keep an eye on your social security statement . If there is any discrepancy call them or show up at the local office.

You're kind of all over the place, talking about your phone PIN and social security check-cashing PIN and people buying you clothes and calling your bank about someone using a gift card to send you children's clothes. Doesn't really make sense.

If you think someone might have stolen your PIN(s), change it(them).
If you think someone might have access to your social security checks, contact SSA or get a post office box and have them sent there.

If you received something you didn't order, it's not your fault, so don't spend your own money, time and emotions to fix it.  I highly commend the previous poster who went out of her way to get to the bottom of it on her own dime...you are a great person and I hope life brings you good things.  But that's also what these scammers count on: goodwill, confusion, and scare tactics.

"I highly commend the previous poster who went out of her way to get to the bottom of it on her own dime...you are a great person and I hope life brings you good things.  But that's also what these scammers count on: goodwill, confusion, and scare tactics."

- Thank you Ryan. But sometimes my goodwill landed me into situations unwittingly that were less than kosher. :-)
However I have no regrets. There are some people I have shut out forever. But there are some that I am open minded about. You create your own destiny.  I wait for others to prove themselves or not.....

how do we change the PIN ?  the verizon store employees told me what it was then i wrote it down.  i keep that PIN in my wallet at all times, so i know that no one could have taken it from me.

and of course i didn't order the clothes they are children clothes and i'm 84 years of age they wouldn't fit !

do i need to get the verizon store employee to get a new phone ?

"...get a post office box and have them sent there."

My post office often puts the wrong mail in my box, I have no idea if my mail is being put in the wrong box.
That post office calls those "mispitches" and even has a slot for people to slip the mail back to the post office.
When I get someone else's mail, I make sure all of mine is out and separate, then I put the other person's mail back in my box, and then push it out to fall on the floor inside their office.

"... verizon store employee to get a new phone?"

No, you do not need a new phone. The PIN is used to keep someone from easily using your phone if you lose it or it is stolen, as well as keep pesky relatives and friends from "borrowing" your phone to make their own phone calls. It also prevents butt-dialing.

Look up your cell phone model on the Internet, usually there are instructions for it you can read and print that will tell you how to change that PIN.

It sounds to me like he received the default pin number, which is usually the last 4 digits of his phone number and never changed it.  If that is the case, then it would be a simple matter for anyone with caller ID to figure it out.  The pin should be a number that he can remember easily, and it doesn't appear that that is the case.

I don't think you are going to be able to articulate through text what the situation is, at least to the extent needed for anyone to be able to help.

I still don't understand the connection you made between your phone PIN and someone cashing your social security checks, or why you contacted your bank to inquire about a gift card.  But your situation sounds like it might be complicated, and you will be better off talking with someone in person.

Suggestions for you:
1) Find a family member or friend with whom you can speak in person or even over the phone, and ask their advice.  The ability to communicate in person is going to be infinitely more helpful than posting on a website.
2) Go to your closest Verizon store and ask their opinion.  If changes need to be made, that's where you'll need to go anyways.
3) Go to your bank and ask their opinion.  At the very least they could put an alert on your account if there is possible fraudulent activity.

Good luck!

Interesting though how this thread went from light bulb scammers to items mistakenly sent/received, to a phone and social security check problem.  By the way, I wasn't aware SS still sent out checks, I thought you had to have direct deposit or a reloadable card as of 2013.  Why someone would opt to get a check is beyond me, but it does seem like there is a waiver:  http://www.ssa.gov/deposit/

Certainly not a good idea in this day and age.  I wouldn't doubt that if he is still getting checks that someone is intercepting them in the mailbox, which is why SS wants direct deposit.

"I still don't understand the connection you made between your phone PIN and someone cashing your social security checks, or why you contacted your bank to inquire about a gift card. "

- I don't either. I think he is beginning to lose it at 84. It's not that unusual. He needs to go to a senior's help center or his place of worship. There will be people who are trained to help him out even go to the store or to his bank with him. He can also get legal help pro bono from retired judges or lawyers who want to volunteer. Good luck and keep us posted about the update. We care about people like you :-)