Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

What is a Brushing Scam? How to Protect Yourself
What is a Brushing Scam? How to Protect Yourself

A brushing scam occurs when e-commerce sellers send unsolicited, low-value items (like seeds, jewelry, or trinkets) to people who did not order them. The goal is to create a fake "verified purchase" review under the recipient's name to artificially boost the seller's ratings, product rankings, and sales volume on platforms like Amazon.

Brushing Scams

  • Sign of Data Breach: The scam indicates your name, address, and sometimes phone number have been leaked or sold on the dark web.
  • Common Items: Unsolicited items often include inexpensive items like plastic jewelry, seeds, masks, or phone accessories.
  • Fake Reviews: Scammers use your address to place fake orders, making them appear to be genuine customers to the algorithm.
  • Dangerous Add-ons: Sometimes, these packages may contain QR codes that lead to phishing websites, which can steal sensitive financial information or install malware.

Received a Package

  1. Do Not Scan QR Codes: If a package includes a QR code or flyer, do not scan it.
  2. Keep or Dispose of Item: Generally, you can keep or throw away the item, as you did not order it.
  3. Report the Seller: Report the unsolicited package to the e-commerce platform (e.g., Amazon) or the USPS.
  4. Monitor Accounts: Change passwords on your shopping accounts and check your credit report for unauthorized activity.
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by info

An Amazon brushing scam occurs when third-party sellers send unsolicited, low-value items to people, using their names and addresses to create fake "verified purchase" reviews and boost product rankings. While the items are safe to keep, the scam indicates your personal data may have been compromised.

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