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A brushing scam is a fraudulent practice where a scammer sends unrequested or unordered packages to recipients and then posts fake positive reviews for the items in the recipient’s name. Simply put, it is an e-scam where someone receives packages containing items they did not order. These packages are often sent by third-party international sellers to fake-review their products as verified buyers in order to boost the product’s ratings and sales numbers.
The scammers mostly use third-party sellers like eBay or Amazon to order items and send them to the recipient’s address. It is important to note that these packages won’t have a return address, and these scams can be dangerous because they compromise the recipient’s personal information and misrepresent their choices and beliefs. This article will discuss in detail these brushing scams, how they work, and how to avoid them. So, keep reading.
What Are Brushing Scams And How Do They Work?
A brushing scam is a type of online fraud where a third-party seller sends packages to people whose names and addresses are available publicly. This type of scam works by paying a random man or woman to place a fake order or use their own information to place the order. The seller then ships an empty box or cheap items to that address and posts a fake positive review to increase ratings and sales numbers of that product. This type of scam usually takes place to boost the rating of the seller’s product or to make their items appear at the top of search results.
Other chances are that the person who received the package may also post a positive review, which further increases the product’s credibility. However, some consequences of the brushing scams include the risk of identity theft, exposure of personal and financial information, your name being used without your consent or knowledge, and the risk of being scammed again. Since brushing scams are a serious issue, we should take measures to prevent them from happening.
Read more: Tips To Safeguard Your Smartphone Data From Online Frauds
Tips To Avoid Brushing Scams
Firstly, it is important to be educated regarding brushing scams and other fraudulent activities. If you find any package on your doorstep that you didn’t order, it can be part of a brushing scam. Signs of this type of scam include receiving items you didn’t order, packages not having a return address, and names showing up on reviews for these products. The packages you will receive will be small, light, cheap, and mostly delivered by Amazon. You can take the following measures to avoid these kinds of scams;
Contact the store or marketplace
If you received a package you didn’t order and you suspect it is part of the brushing scam, contact the store or marketplace that has sent the package. Mostly, this kind of scam is carried out through Amazon but Amazon strictly doesn’t allow brushing, so contacting them will lead to an investigation that will prevent the seller from listing their products on Amazon.
Avoid paying for packages
No matter what you do with the package, whether you use it or throw it away, just don’t pay for it unless the seller reaches out to you. If the delivery company reminds you the payment is due, inform them that you didn’t order it and want to return it to the original sender. Also, it is best not to use or apply what is in the package because their quality or safety cannot be assured.
Discard or return the packages
The items you will receive through brushing scams will be cheap and of low quality. They may not be of any use, so it is best to discard them or return the package. Try contacting the delivery company and tell them you wish to return the item if the return address is given. If the return address is not mentioned, it is best to throw the package away.
Report the fraud to FTC
The first thing you should do if you have been scammed is report the fraud to the FTC. They can take necessary actions by helping law enforcement fight these types of scams. FTC also offers information regarding online scams, how to recover from identity theft, and more.
Monitor your accounts
If you feel you have been scammed, change your account password immediately and closely monitor your accounts for several months. After a brushing scam, consider freezing your credit card to prevent anyone from opening anything in your name and to avoid financial loss. If suspicious activities occur, do not hesitate to report them to the financial institution and try requesting new cards and account numbers.
Conclusion
Brushing scams have become increasingly common in recent years due to the huge growth of e-commerce and online shopping. People with publicly available names and addresses are likely to be the victims of this kind of scam. It is a fraudulent activity where a seller creates fake orders and ships them to random, unsuspecting people’s addresses. Once the recipient receives the package, the third-party seller posts a fake positive review on the recipient’s name. This is done to boost the product’s ratings and sales numbers.
Brushing scams can cause consequences like identity theft, personal and financial information exposure, and the risk of being scammed again. Because of these reasons, brushing scams can be dangerous. So, it is important to take measures to prevent this kind of scam. If you receive an item you didn’t order and suspect you have been scammed, try contacting the seller or marketplace, avoid paying for the packages, discard or return the item, monitor your accounts, and report the fraud to FTC. It is best to not use the item from the package due to quality and safety concerns and try changing account passwords immediately.
Also read: Black Friday Warning: Cybersecurity Chief Advises Shoppers To Beware Of Scams
