Received an Unexpected Package? Watch Out for Brushing Scams
Key Takeaways:
- Brushing scams are a type of retail scam where dishonest sellers send unsolicited items to people in order to create fake delivery confirmations and reviews.
- Scammers use brushing scams to get their items featured on marketplace websites like Amazon or AliExpress, to trick real buyers into thinking it’s a popular item.
- If you receive an unexpected package, there’s no need to send it back, but never pay for it after the fact.
A scam where you get free stuff doesn’t sound so bad, but it isn’t as harmless as it sounds. Brushing scams are a type of shopping scam used by sellers to boost their reputation and inflate item feedback with fake reviews. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a Brushing Scam?
The easiest way to explain brushing scams is as a scheme where sellers send unsolicited items to people in order to then post fake reviews on “verified purchases” using the name of whoever they sent it to.
What is the Purpose of Brushing Scams?
The ultimate goal of brushing scams is to make seller profiles look reputable on platforms like Amazon, for example. By showing proof of completed orders (hiding the fact that they were sent unsolicited) and having a large number of positive reviews (even if they’re fake), sellers can eventually boost their products to appear high up on product search results.
This, of course, results in real buyers thinking the item, seller, and reviews are trustworthy, eventually leading to a higher number of real sales.
Why is it Called Brushing?
The term “brushing” is used due to the goal of the scam being to “brush up” sales numbers and seller reputations.
How Brushing Scams Work
Brushing scams aren’t overly complicated, and often go as follows:
- Scammers create seller accounts on marketplaces like Amazon or AliExpress.
- They place unsolicited orders to be sent to your address (at no cost to you).
- They then use the delivery confirmation as proof that the item was purchased and sent to a customer.
- They either use your account or make a fake account under your name to leave a positive review.
- As their items gain more “orders” and “reviews,” they gain visibility for real shoppers to purchase, thinking the item is actually popular and well-liked.
What’s the Harm of Brushing Scams?
It might not sound all that bad, but allowing brushing scams to go unreported (especially in your name) isn’t totally victimless. First, there’s a chance that your private information and accounts have been compromised, in which case you’ll need to figure out what other access they have. Second, by allowing them to fake orders and reviews, unsuspecting shoppers are more likely to order low-quality items that they think they can trust.
On the grand scale of scams, this one might not seem like the worst, but it’s still dishonest and scams people out of hard-earned money.
Common Brushing Scam Items
If you receive a package in your name that you aren’t expecting, and it’s not accompanied by a gift letter from a sender you personally know, there’s a good chance it’s part of a brushing scam. These scams can involve all sorts of items, but are generally one of the following:
- Household items
- Small gadgets
- Cheap jewelry
- Knockoff cosmetics
The reality is that whatever they send you is almost certainly going to be cheaply made and low-quality, which is exactly why they’re trying to trick future buyers into thinking that’s not the case.
How to Avoid Brushing Scams
There’s not much you can do about random packages showing up at your door, but where brushing scams really hurt people is when unsuspecting shoppers buy items that are propped up by fake reviews. If you go to order an item on a marketplace retailer like Amazon, AliExpress, or Temu, be wary of items with reviews that seem fake or eerily similar.
Brushing Scam FAQs
What should I do if I receive an unordered package?
If you receive a package that you weren’t expecting and isn’t a gift from someone you know, take the following steps:
- Check your accounts to make sure nothing has been ordered or reviewed under your account by an outside party.
- If you know which marketplace this item is coming from (like Amazon or AliExpress), report the brushing scam.
- Check for data breaches and update your passwords.
- Make sure you don’t have any unrecognized charges on your debit/credit cards.
- Mark the package as return to sender if there is a free option.
Can I be charged for something I didn’t order?
No. If someone sends you an item and then demands you pay, it’s a scam, and you can block/report them.
Should I return an item I didn’t order?
No. You aren’t required to pay for or return items sent to you, and the less interaction with scammers, the better.
What if the package came with a link or QR code?
Phishing and quishing are two super-popular types of scams. Under no circumstances should you follow a link or QR code that arrives with an unknown/unexpected package.
Cyrus Grant is a writer from Southern California with a background in law and dispute resolution. When he isn’t writing, he can be found deep-diving into the latest technology trends or simply spending time at the beach.