(BBB, Joe Ducey)
Surprise package on your doorstep? What could be wrong with free products being delivered to your home? Turns out, you could have been targeted for a recent scam called "brushing." A brushing scam occurs when scammers send unordered packages to people, using their address to create fake verified reviews and boost product ratings. These items, often inexpensive and lightweight, help third-party sellers appear more legitimate and increase sales.
Most complaints show a similar pattern:
- BBB Pacific Southwest, Central & Inland California is receiving complaints from people getting towels, jewelry boxes, pet toys and more that they never ordered.
- The items are typically small and have no return address.
- In brushing scams, third-party online sellers create fake orders, and deliver them to addresses found online.
- They then act as the receiver, writing a fake 5-star positive online review about the product to increase sales.
Avoid the scam and protect yourself:
- Notify the retailer. Brushing and fake reviews are against Amazon’s policies, so contact Amazon Customer Service if this happens to you and the product appears to come from Amazon. They will investigate and take action against the bad actor. Amazon also takes security seriously and encourages customers to report fraudulent purchases or other security issues. If the package appears to come through another established business, go directly to their website to get their contact information. If you prefer to contact the business by phone, be cautious about searching for support phone numbers.
- Attempt to identify the sender. If you can identify the sender of unordered packages, consider checking for potential false reviews in your name - and ask for the reviews to be removed.
- Check your account for recent orders. Some targets of brushing scams can be deluged with unordered packages, creating a serious problem. If this happens, consider whether to refuse package delivery at your home address and temporarily direct items that you did order to a package acceptance service.
- Change your account passwords. This may be a sign that personal information has been compromised, and to improve account security, keep a close eye on credit reports and credit card bills.
- You are allowed to keep the merchandise. The Federal Trade Commission says you have a legal right to keep unordered merchandise.
- Protect your identity. BBB advises to take all necessary precautions to prevent identity theft. Be careful when entering personal information online, and ensure you use a secure site.
Expert industry speaker available:
Joe Ducey, BBB’s AVP of Public Engagement and Investigative Outreach, and the Joe Knows Better Podcast's host, is a consumer protection expert. He shares insights on trending scams, ethical business practices, and empowers consumers to make informed decisions. He is available for media interviews on such topics.
Download pre-recorded clips to complement your coverage:
Clip Time :20
“People are getting deliveries they never ordered… towels, pet toys, usually small items. They are brushing scams.. 3rd party sellers trying to brush up online product reviews. They create fake orders, deliver to unsuspecting addresses found online, then pretend they are the package receiver and write a 5 star product review to increase sales."
Clip Time :17
“You can keep packages you didn’t order. So victimless scam? Well, these fake positive reviews could lead buyers to buy bad products. And scammers have your address.. What more do they know about you? If you get an unordered package, report it to the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint with BBB Scam Tracker so others know.”
More information
For media inquiries, contact pr@bbbcommunity. Please allow a 24 hour courtesy for interview requests. For additional news stories, visit BBB.org/us/news. Published with permission from Better Business Bureau.
