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

Brushing Scam Amazon - How to Protect Yourself
Brushing Scam Amazon - How to Protect Yourself

An Amazon brushing scam is an e-commerce fraud tactic where third-party sellers ship unsolicited packages to your home so they can write fake, five-star "verified purchase" reviews under your name. The sellers manipulate delivery tracking data to inflate their store metrics, tricking future shoppers into buying subpar items.

How the Scam Works

  • Data Harvest: Scammers grab your name and delivery address through past third-party data breaches or public leaks.
  • Fake Purchase: The seller creates an account and purchases their own low-cost product using your physical address.
  • Real Package: They mail a cheap item—like plastic trinkets, seeds, phone cases, or even an empty envelope.
  • Verified Review: Once carrier tracking proves successful delivery, the platform unlocks a "Verified Purchase" tag for the scammer to post a glowing, fake review.

Immediate Risks to You

While getting a free package sounds great, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and cyber security experts warn of underlying dangers:

  • Exposed Information: The most serious red flag is that bad actors have your personal data.
  • Account Takeover: Though scammers usually create distinct fake profiles using your address, they may have occasionally breached your actual account.
  • Safety Hazards: Unsolicited goods like cosmetics, supplements, or cheap electronics may be counterfeit, expired, or chemically unsafe. Unidentified seeds pose severe environmental risks.
  • Malware Traps: Some packages contain QR codes promising gift cards; scanning them can launch malware or steal financial info.

Action Steps to Take

1. File a Report with Amazon

Log into your account and use the Amazon Report Unsolicited Package Form. Prepare to provide the following details found on the package label:

  • Total number of unwanted packages received.
  • The specific tracking number.
  • A photo of the shipping label (optional).

2. Audit Your Amazon Account

  • Check your order history and view your Archived Orders page to look for purchases you did not make.
  • Open Your Amazon Profile page to check for any published item reviews you did not write.

    3. Handle the Merchandise Safely

    • Do not use or consume any received items, cosmetics, or food.
    • Under federal law, you are legally entitled to keep unsolicited packages as a gift, or you can safely throw them out.
    • If you receive random seeds or soil, do not plant them. Report the package directly to your local state department of agriculture or the USDA.
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