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Remember when mysterious seeds from China began arriving on doorsteps this summer? Authorities call this a brushing scam, defined as when people are sent products they didn’t order so the company can post fake customer reviews to boost sales. The boxes typically have no return address and contain lightweight, cheap-to-ship items.
Companies that use brushing scams are often based in foreign countries and on the hunt for positive online reviews to improve their product ratings. They use your address and send you items so Amazon will label you as a verified buyer, enabling the companies to write a glowing review under your name and fraudulently increase their sales numbers. At first glance, you may think getting free stuff delivered to your home is a good thing. But you should be concerned, since the company sending the products to you obtained your mailing address somehow. It could be from data breaches that exposed the personal information of thousands or millions of victims. You also don’t know what other information these unethical companies obtained about you. They could have your Social Security number, bank account information, or online passwords — putting you at risk for identity theft. How should you respond if you receive this type of mysterious package? First of all, the Federal Trade Commission says you’re allowed to keep packages you didn’t order, since federal laws prohibit people from sending you merchandise you didn’t order and then charging you for it. However, since you could be the target of a brushing scam, take these steps:
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TUTORIAL/FAQ
TUTORIAL/FAQ
Question: I’m concerned about accidentally shopping from a fraudulent website. How can I spot the fakes?
Answer: Watch out for these common red flags:
- A URL starting with http://
The first thing you want to look for on a website is the https:// at the beginning of the address. The
“s” in https:// stands for “secure,” indicating the website uses encryption to transfer data, protecting it from hackers.
If a website uses http:// (without the “s”), that doesn’t guarantee it’s a scam, but it’s reason for pause. To be on the safe side, you should never enter personal information into a site beginning with http://. - A Newly Created Domain
Scammers often have to set up new websites in an effort to outrun negative reviews from those they’ve scammed, so domain age can be a telltale sign. Check a resource such as https://whois.domaintools.com to see when the website was created. If it’s only been around for a few months, it might be a scam. - Fake Security Logos
Check sites for logos that indicate which security certifications a website has, like DigiCert, Verisign, or Symantec. A scam site may copy and paste pictures of these logos on their sites. To check whether a certification is valid, click on the logo to see if it opens a new tab with details about the website’s security. If the logo is just a picture and not a button, it’s likely fake. - No Social Media Presence
Legitimate companies tend to have, at the very least, a presence on Facebook or Twitter with a respectable number of followers. Fraudulent websites, by contrast, may lack social media accounts. - No Customer Reviews
Do a quick Google search of the business’s name along with “reviews” or “complaints.” If there is a lack of reviews or other mentions of the website, you should consider it suspicious. - Prices Too Good to Be True
Use common sense to avoid scams. If a website’s deals seem too good to be true, they probably are. A good rule of thumb is to be suspicious of discounts greater than 50%. - Requirement to Use Unsecured Forms of Payment
Legitimate websites offer standard payment options, such as credit cards or PayPal. If a website requires you to use a wire transfer, money order, or other unsecured (and nonrefundable) form of payment, stay away.
With these things in mind, you won’t be fooled by fraudulent websites. Stay informed, keep vigilant, and take control of your online shopping experience.
