What Is a Brushing Scam?

Most of the time, it’s obvious what people are referring to if they talk about a romance scam or an investment scam, but what is a brushing scam?  Take a guess from these choices:

1. It’s when someone brushes against you and attempts to steal your wallet.
2. It could be when someone sells fake dental products, like toothbrushes, mouthwash, and dental insurance.
3. Some scammers sell bogus language-study courses so you can “brush up” on your French or Spanish.
4. It’s when you find a package at your doorstep, and inside is an item of low to moderate value that you did NOT order.

What’s your guess? Well, the answer might surprise you.

It’s the last choice—when a delivery arrives at your address with goods inside that you didn’t order or expect. That’s what it is, but why is it a scam?  The answer is that it is, and it isn’t a potential scam.

• On one hand, it can simply be an online seller using your name in a product review, saying you loved the product you received from them.
• However, that package addressed to you indicates that someone knows your name and address, and perhaps more, such as your Amazon account information.
• Finally, it could be the first step in a bigger scam leading to identity theft. (More on that later in this article.)

That’s why it’s good to be aware of this latest scheme by fraudsters.

Getting free merchandise delivered to you could be

the first step in a bigger scam leading to identity theft.

We rarely get anonymous packages.  

Many people have received a letter or package delivered to the wrong address. The address on the delivery is for the house two doors down, or the next apartment building, etc. In those cases, someone else’s name and/or address can be seen on the “to” label.

But what if the package that comes out of the blue has your name and address on it, just as if you ordered it? Is it a surprise from a friend, or did you forget that you bought something online a few weeks back? What if it is none of that?

Then it could very well be what fraud experts call a brushing scam. It’s a sad byproduct of the booming online shopping industry on Amazon, Etsy, and other websites.

The down and dirty on brushing scams.

That free package you received most likely came from an online seller sending you some of their merchandise to unload inventory. More than that, they may write a glowing review of the product on Amazon or another website review, using your name (Mike H. in California)—as if you ordered it, bought it, and loved it! In fact, that’s where the term “brushing scam” comes from.

In the same way a job hunter “brushes up their resume” with impressive facts to make themselves look better (sometimes stretching the truth), an online seller will brush up their product reviews by creating false ones. The fake reviews could help the seller boost their sales.

Of course, when you get that package you are unaware of any of this; you’re simply looking at a box you received and maybe wondering what it is. That’s the somewhat “harmless” aspect of the brushing scam.

However, there could also be something else in the package that some brushing scammers include to get you involved, and that’s when something bad happens. Here’s what we mean.

Possible scenario. You get an unexpected package today!

Let’s pretend you got a package today that you didn’t expect. You’d be curious, but surely you’d open it because it seems to be for you. Inside you find…something. It could be one of the following or something totally different:

• An assortment of ladies’ dresses.
• A ring, necklace or bracelet.
• Children’s toys.
• Bluetooth speaker.

You find there’s no bill or statement, saying what you bought or what you owe. It appeas to be free, and it seems to be yours as far as you can tell. You’d be confused, naturally, as are the hundreds and thousands of people this happens to more and more.

Yes, you can keep the free stuff sent to you!

You’d be glad to keep items that came to you for free, especially if you liked it, or could give it to someone else. Truth is, most fraud and consumer experts say you can keep any items sent to that you didn’t order (unless you know it was intended for someone else, like a neighbor or some customer with the same name).

A California resident kept receiving boxes of free dresses. He decided to take the high road and donate the merchandise to charitable organizations.

Whether you keep the goods or not, you’d have to be somewhat suspicious because something strange is going on.

What may seem like gifts from a stranger could be a sign of something worse.

The not-so-innocent side of a brushing scam.

It might seem odd to be fearful of getting free merchandise in a surprise package, but caution is wise for a few reasons. Here’s what may be going on:

Beware of the QR code! In some cases, along with free items inside the package, there is also a letter containing a message inviting you to learn more about the product or seller. It will include a QR code or website address that leads you to a webpage asking for your personal information. That’s where the brushing scam sometimes pays off for some criminals.

There’s more to be concerned about.

However, even if there’s no sheet with a QR code or website they suggest you visit, you still should take action to protect yourself. Here’s why:

1. It’s possible that someone has hacked your personal Amazon, Etsy or other online shopping account and is using it to post reviews.
2. A fraudster may also have collected more of your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and may soon attempt to log in to other accounts you have.
3. Identity thieves may try to open new credit accounts in your name or buy merchandise using your information and ship it to themselves.

You can report a brushing scam to Amazon.

If Amazon shipped a suspicious package, they want you to report it to them so they can investigate. Here’s why:

1. You can help slow down sellers writing fake product reviews, which Amazon dislikes.
2. It could help Amazon identify sellers who are skirting the rules.
3. Reporting a brushing scam can lead to closing the accounts of unscrupulous sellers, limiting fraud, and shutting down criminal groups.

Whatever shopping platform you use, they will have a way for you to report possible brushing scams.

What is a brushing scam going to cause you to do?

On that day when an unexpected package arrives at your doorstep, what will you do?

• You can keep it, donate it, give it to a friend, throw it away…or report it.
• You might not even know that the sender is writing a product review using your name. Is that okay with you?
• The package may include information inviting you to use the QR code to learn more. Do you want to help stop this seller from committing fraud?

Learn more about scams and online shopping fraud.

To learn more about account safety and protecting your money and identity, visit the Learning Center at WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. You’ll find many informative, easy-to-read articles to help you protect what’s important to you.