If You Have Received A Parcel You Didn’t Order, It Might Be The Result Of A Scam
Image via Shutterstock
Perhaps to the envy of others, some people have been finding random packages they didn’t order at their doorsteps. However, the Federal Trade Commission has cautioned that these unsolicited parcels could be part of “brushing” scams.
Brushing what? CNN Business explains that in order to boost the popularity of their product listings, third-party marketplace merchants—or “brushers”—either pay people to post fake reviews or create them themselves. But to have reviews written, there must be a record that a transaction has been made and a tracking number. “Brushers” will thus sign up for fake accounts, populate the registration fields with the names and addresses of strangers, and mail something to the unknowing individuals.
Rather than sending the actual product to those addresses, the brusher will mail a small and cheap item to the recipient instead. These include packages of seeds, portable car chargers, hair clippers, and sunglasses.
If you have been on the receiving end of these parcels, the risk that you might be compromised is usually low. The true victims are typically shoppers who buy into the bogus reviews, shared e-commerce consultant Chris McCabe.
However, there is also a chance scammers could have obtained your information online or gotten access to your accounts.
“We recommend keeping an eye on your online shopping accounts,” an FTC spokesperson told the news outlet. “If you spot activity that isn’t yours, report it to the site right away, and think about changing your password for that site.”
And while it is not illegal for merchants to mail unordered items to customers, writing fake reviews is actionable. “The [Federal Trade Commission] has long gone after marketers that use fake reviews,” David Vladeck, a Georgetown University law professor and former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection told CNN Business.
Both Amazon and eBay have implemented measures to prevent brushing scams from occurring. Unfortunately, online marketplaces cannot fully monitor this sort of activity, as they can’t always tell which reviews are legitimate. Some scams might also go under the radar because consumers don’t always report them.
On Amazon’s part, it bans sellers from sending unordered products to customers. Should the website find out a merchant has been doing this, it might take down their accounts. “We take action on those who violate our policies, including withholding payments, suspending or removing selling privileges, or working with law enforcement,” said an Amazon representative.
eBay has a similar policy, though it claims that brushing scams “do not appear to be highly prevalent” there.
Recipients are urged to report unsolicited parcels if they receive one, because it could incentivize scammers to continue generating fake reviews and ultimately inhibit honest, well-intentioned sellers from reaching potential buyers.
[via CNN Business, cover image via Shutterstock]
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